The "Encountering Chinese Culture" carnival of the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) was held this afternoon (June 9) in Sha Tin. Through an array of activities rich in Chinese culture characteristics, including stage performances, cultural booths, story-telling sessions, a Chinese music performance, an exhibition and a talk, members of the public were able to experience the colourful Chinese culture and arts up close. These fascinating free activities attracted an attendance of around 13 500.

     The carnival kicked off with a dragon and lion dance performance. Addressing the kick-off ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said he hopes that through the CCF, the unique charm and diversified characteristics of Chinese culture would be demonstrated to local residents, arts and culture lovers and tourists from all over the world. The festival would also drive visitor arrivals and related business growth to implement the concept of "Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong" by making good use of Hong Kong's tourism resources, bringing impetus into the city's economy. The carnival is a tripartite collaboration of the Government, the business sector and the community in which the mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for the country and Hong Kong can be promoted through Chinese culture activities and help build consensus in society to create a better Hong Kong.

     Mr Yeung added that he hopes the carnival activities could shorten the distance between culture and arts and people's living, and enhance the public understanding of, interest in and resonance with fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby strengthening cultural pride among people, creating quality cultural values, and promoting the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture.

     Different activities of the carnival were held at the Foyer, Exhibition Gallery, Plaza and Lecture Room 1 of Sha Tin Town Hall and the Entrance Arena at L1, Phase 1 of New Town Plaza. Many visitors were attracted by the series of amazing dance, drumming and magic performances, which were mostly excerpts from this year's CCF programmes, presented by various outstanding local and Mainland arts groups, and gave them rounds of applause.

     In addition, the carnival featured eight cultural booths and workshops covering a wide range of intangible cultural heritage items of traditional craftsmanship, including blown sugar technique, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese paper-cutting, guangcai (the Canton famille rose porcelain) making, Hong Kong cheongsam making and Cantonese opera headdress crafting. Booths for fragrant sachets making and paper folding of dragon boats and rice dumplings were specially set up, which attracted family visitors to join.

     Mentees from the Strive and Rise Programme were invited to participate in today's carnival. Apart from watching live stage performances, they also took part in the workshops or joined the guided arts appreciation sessions at different cultural booths to experience the charm of Chinese culture. 

     The story ambassadors of the Hong Kong Public Libraries' Library-on-Wheels also attended the carnival and delivered stories from "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in a lively and easy-to-understand manner, so that children at the scene could learn about the classic characters and exciting stories in the book. Other Chinese classic novels and books on Chinese culture were available for visitors to borrow on-site.

     Many visitors also joined the last day of the "Glowing Beauties – A Photo Exhibition on Ethnic Costumes" at the Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall, and enjoyed the Chinese instrumental performance by the Music Office trainees' ensemble. The "Talk on the Miao Embroidery and their Hidden Stories" held in the evening also attracted a sizable audience.

     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.

     The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

                  

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 8) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 7 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $6.4 million. One man was arrested.

     A 74-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Panama City, Panama via Paris, France and Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in six pieces of bed sheets and in the interlinings of the front and back covers of four books inside his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

  

     The 9th Hong Kong Games (HKG) Closing cum Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (June 9) after completion of all contests of the Games. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, officiated at the ceremony.

     HKG, held biennially since 2007, is a territory-wide major multi-sport event with the 18 Districts as participating units. It aims to promote the "sport for all" culture in the community.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yeung said, over 4 000 athletes took part in more than 1 000 matches in eight sports events of this year's HKG, namely athletics, badminton, 3-on-3 basketball, futsal, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball, to strive for excellence to win honour for themselves and the districts they live in. The athletes not only demonstrated their masterly skills, but also their hardworking and sportsmanship during the competitions. Their achievements are very impressive.

     Mr Yeung added, the Government will continue to promote "sport for all" culture and provide the community with more opportunities for sports participation and exchanges, so as to encourage members of the public to take part in various sports activities.

     Age groups (15 or below, 16 to 17, and 18 or above) have been introduced for individual sports events in the 9th HKG, aiming to let more members of the public, particularly the younger generation, participate. There are over 1 500 young participants to join this year's HKG, the response has been encouraging.

     Other officiating guests at the ceremony included Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Vincent Cheng; the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Mr Timothy Fok; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Winnie Chui; the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Sam Wong; the Chairman of the 9th HKG Organising Committee, Professor Patrick Yung; Executive Advisers of the Organising Committee Mr William Tong and Mr David Yip. Representatives from the relevant National Sports Associations and Home Affairs Department's 18 District Offices also attended the ceremony.

     At the ceremony, awards were presented to the Games' winning athletes and teams for their outstanding performance during the competitions. The 9th HKG overall championship went to Yuen Long District, which achieved the highest total score across the eight sports competitions. The overall first runner-up was Yau Tsim Mong District; while Shatin District was the overall second runner-up.

     The champions in the eight sports competitions are as follows:
 

     Prizes to encourage district participation were also awarded at the ceremony. North District won the award of "District with the Strongest Cheering Squad"; Yuen Long District won the award of "District with the Greatest Participation"; for the "District with the Best Sportsmanship", the championship, first runner-up and second runner-up are Yuen Long District, Islands District and Kowloon City District respectively; Yau Tsim Mong District won the award of "District with the Best Progress"; the award of "District with the Most Gold Medals" went to Yuen Long District.

     For the Cheering Team Competition for the 18 Districts, Islands District was the champion of "the Best Performance Award", with Yuen Long District and Sai Kung District as the first and second runners-up respectively. Islands District also won first place for "the Best Local Characteristics Award", while Sai Kung District was the first runner-up, and Kwun Tong District came third. North District won "the Highest Popularity Award".

     Details of the prize-winning districts are listed in the attachment.

     For the public voting activities, Wan Chai District and North District won "Online Voting – My Favourite Sporty District" and "Paper Voting – My Favourite Sporty District" respectively. A lucky draw for winners of the voting and guessing activities was held before the ceremony. The winner list will be uploaded to the 9th HKG website (www.hongkonggames.hk) and published in Sing Tao Daily and The Standard on June 18.

     A series of community participation programmes were also organised for members of the public to take part in the 9th HKG. They included elite athletes' demonstration and exchange programmes, a sports seminar, the Sports Legacy – Exercise to Get Super Fit, the 18 Districts' Pledging cum Cheering Team Competition, the Hong Kong Games Run and Exercise Together, the Jockey Club Vitality Run, the Dynamic Moments Photo Contest, voting and guessing activities, the Opening Ceremony and today's Closing cum Prize Presentation Ceremony.

     The success of the biennial HKG would not have been possible without the support and participation of the members of the public and the co-operation of the sectors of community. The Government successfully procured the broadcasting rights of the Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Hong Kong, allowing all Hong Kong citizens to extend the enthusiasm for sports as well as giving support to Mainland and Hong Kong athletes by watching the Games for free.

     The submission deadline for the Dynamic Moments Photo Contest is June 21 and the results will be announced in July.

     The 9th HKG was organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by its Community Sports Committee, with the Home Affairs Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the SF&OC, and the relevant National Sports Associations of the sports competitions as co-organisers. The Hong Kong Jockey Club was the Principal Contributor of the event.

          

     Police today (June 9) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsing Yi.

     Wong Yuen-leung, aged 60, went missing after he contacted his family by phone in January. His family made a report to Police on May 21.
   
     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 5683 7041 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 9) that Tsing Yi Southwest Swimming Pool in Kwai Tsing District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 9pm today. 

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.