Foyer Performance on the Opening Night:
Alice in the World City by Hong Kong 3 Arts Musical Institute

Opening Reception

Speech by Ms Florence HUI Hiu-fai, JP
Under Secretary for Home Affairs
at the Opening Ceremony of the
International Arts Carnival 2009

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure this evening to welcome all of you here to the Opening Programme of the International Arts Carnival.

Every summer, the International Arts Carnival held by our Leisure and Cultural Services Department brings to children and families of Hong Kong a rich array of top-notch arts and cultural programmes that are not only entertaining and also educational.

Over the past twenty years, thanks to all of your continued support, the Carnival has developed from a small-scale programme to a well-established summer arts festival in Hong Kong widely recognized as one of our major cultural events.

This year, in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, the Carnival specially features two fabulous programmes from the Mainland. They include tonight's Opening Programme Genghis Khan performed by the award-winning Inner Mongolia Acrobatic Troupe of China and The Carnival of Chinese Puppets by three leading puppet troupes in China. Over the coming six weeks, the Carnival will present a colourful line-up of outstanding performances and extension activities by 40 different local and visiting arts groups.

With the recent development of the human swine flu, the Carnival will enforce preventive measures as advised by the Department of Health to ensure all of us would continue to enjoy the wonderfully planned programmes.

May I invite all of you and families to explore the full range of programmes, and experience an exciting fun-filled summer with the Carnival. Please also enjoy the rest of the evening. Thank you.