Director rings NYSE closing bell
Not a listed company, not an IPO, it was an unusual gang at the closing bell ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Anita Chan, joined members of the organizing committee of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 30, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the HKDBF-NY.
|
| To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY), Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Miss Anita Chan (front row, fifth from left), along with members of the organizing committee of the HKDBF-NY, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, July 30. |
The festival, a Chinese tradition with more than 2,000 years of history, was first introduced to New York by the HKETONY in 1991. As the HKDBF-NY celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it has also become a fixture of the New York summer scene.
The closing bell ceremony is part of a series of commemorative events to mark the 20th anniversary of the Festival, which had a soft kick-off in January this year when Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang visited New York and performed an eye-dotting ceremony at a reception.
On June 23, a 30-second video commemorating the 20th anniversary celebration was launched on HSBC’s jumbo-tron screen located in the heart of New York’s Times Square.
A blissful and traditional eye-dotting of two colorful dragon boats also part of the festivities during the “Dragon Boat Awakening Ceremony” ceremony held in New York City’s Central Park on July 1. As part of the ceremony, Buddhist monks gave blessings to the dragon boats as well as for prosperity and good fortune to New York City.
On August 6, the eve of the Festival launch, New York landmark – the Empire State Building – will celebrate the 20th anniversary of HKBDF-NY with a show-of-light spectacular, featuring the colors of Festival.
Concluding the celebration, a team dinner will be held on August 27 in the Boat House of Central Park. Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Donald Tong, will be the guest of honor. The dinner will be attended by city government officials, community leaders, major sponsors, representatives of the business sector, and the media.
The 20th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York will be held August 7 and 8 at Meadows Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The HKETONY is the principal festival benefactor for this year’s festival. Every year, the HKETONY has a booth at the festival to update visitors on Hong Kong’s latest developments. Brand Hong Kong souvenirs will also be given to those attending the festival.
|
