An alluring showcase of Hong Kong cuisine featured in New York
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Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Monica Chen said the various programs presented at the "New York Celebrates Hong Kong" festival aim to provide New Yorkers with a panoramic view of Hong Kong's economic vitality and cultural diversity. |
The grand finale event of the “New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008” festival was held October 22, capping the celebrations of Hong Kong’s diverse culture and creative entrepreneurship in New York.
Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Monica Chen said, “The festival, a potpourri of various events of different nature, showcases the various facets of Hong Kong’s talents.”
The grand finale’s events highlighted Hong Kong’s eminence as a culinary capital. Some 90 guests were treated to an exquisite dining experience as well as a demonstration of Hong Kong’s refined culinary art with narration by well-known Chinese food expert Ed Schoenfeld.
Ms. Chen said that Hong Kong’s unique historical background, proximity to mainland China and the city’s ever-wanting desire for excellence have made Hong Kong the “Gourmet’s Paradise.”
“A culinary capital of Asia, Hong Kong is famous for its exotic fusion of Eastern and Western cuisine and captures a wide variety of culinary delights to boot,” she said.
In her remarks, Ms. Chen pointed out that the New York community is given an opportunity to learn more about the evolving “modern heritage” of Hong Kong’s continuously vibrant and transformative city through the “New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008” festival.
“The various programs that we have presented aim to provide the New York community with a panoramic view of Hong Kong’s economic vitality and cultural diversity,” said Ms. Chen.
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Guests at the “Taste of Hong Kong” event were treated to an exquisite dining experience that included delectable dim-sums. |
During the dinner, guests were treated to a slideshow of the various events that took place during the festival, including the launch event for New York media; the “Hong Kong Panorama: A Rhapsody of Cantonese Opera” with Cantonese opera performances by Hong Kong’s renowned Cantonese opera troupe – Ming Chee Sing Chinese Opera Company; Cantonese opera workshops at two local schools, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and Parsons the New School for Design; the lecture “A New Vision: Chinese Spirit, Global Design” featuring internationally acclaimed Hong Kong designer Eric Chan and architect/designer Calvin Tsao; an international symposium in conjunction with “Vertical Cities: Hong Kong/New York” and “A Showcase of Hong Kong Contemporary Dance: Silver Rain” featuring Hong Kong’s City Contemporary Dance Company.
Ms. Chen pointed out that the festival has the full support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, with Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing launching the media campaign for the festival as well as officiating at the premiere of the “Hong Kong Panorama: A Rhapsody of Cantonese Opera” performance at Queens Theatre in the Park.
Hong Kong Secretary for Development Carrie Lam spoke at the plenary session at the symposium in conjunction with the “Vertical Cities: Hong Kong/New York” exhibition organized by the Skyscraper Museum in New York City, where she spoke on the relationship between vertical density and sustainable solutions in Hong Kong and New York. During her visit to New York, Mrs. Lam also officiated at the “A New Vision: Chinese Spirit, Global Design” lecture at Asia Society and also at the “Silver Rain” performance at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University.
Donald Tong, who has just taken up the appointment of Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, U.S.A., was a guest of honor at the “A Taste of Hong Kong” event.
The “New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008” festival is a month-long celebration throughout New York City of Hong Kong’s creativity and entrepreneurship. Through art exhibits, opera and dance performances and educational symposiums, the festival offers an opportunity to learn about the evolving “modern heritage” of the continuously vibrant and transformative city of Hong Kong.
The festival is hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
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