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SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1986
SIR EDWARD OPENS HONG KONG DAY AT EXPO
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HONG KONG'S PRESENCE AT EXPO '86 WILL SERVE TO DRAW HONG KONG AND CANADA CLOSER TOGETHER, FULFILLING THE EXPO THEME OF A WORLD IN COMMUNICATION AND A WORLD IN TOUCH, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN VANCOUVER TODAY (HONG KONG TIME).
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF HONG KONG DAY AT EXPO AFTER SPEECHES BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EXPO ORGANISERS AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS A FEDERAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MISS MARY COLLINS.
+EXPO '86 PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT PLATFORM FOR HONG KONG TO SHOW ITSELF TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AS A VIABLE AND PROSPEROUS TERRITORY, AND AS A REGIONAL CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATION, FINANCE TRANSPORT AND TRADE IN THE FAR EAST, WITH A FUTURE FIRMLY SECURED INTO THE NEXT CENTURY,+ SIR EDWARD TOLD THE GATHERING AT EXPO'S PLAZA OF NATIONS.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS CERTAIN THAT HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE EXPOSITION WOULD ESPECIALLY STRENGTHEN THE COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND VANCOUVER THAT ENRICH BOTH THEIR ECONOMIES AND THE LIVES OF THEIR CITIZENS.
THESE TIES WERE STRONG, SIR EDWARD SAID. BOTH CITIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CONOMY OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION AND BOTH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AND BENEFITED FROM THE REGION'S SWIFT PROGRESS.
+ THE TRADE BETWEEN CANADA AND HONG KONG HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER STILL, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, OUR TWO CITIES ENJOY STRONG CULTURAL AND PERSONAL TIES, WITH SO MANY OF VANCOUVER'S CHINESE COMMUNITY ORIGINATING FROM HONG KONG, HE SAID.
SIR EDWRAD SPOKE AT THE END OF A COLOURFUL 20-MINUTE CEREMONY, WHICH INCLUDED THE CEREMONIAL RAISING OF THE HONG KONG AND CANADIAN FLAGS, AND THE PLAYING OF THE TWO NATIONAL ANTHEMS BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND, WHICH WAS RESPLENDENT IN ITS FULL DRESS UNIFORM.
EARLIER, SIR EDWARD TOURED THE HONG KONG PAVILION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EXPO SITE, BEFORE TRAVELLING TO THE PLAZA OF NATIONS BY SPECIAL VIP BOAT. ALONG THE WAY, HE WAS GIVEN A TOUR OF THE EXPO SITE, WHICH IS BUILT ON THE BANKS OF VANCOUVER'S FALSE CREEK.
HE WAS GREETED AT THE PLAZA OF NATIONS BY THE EXPO COMMISSIONER, MR PATRICK REID, AND WAS ENTERTAINED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND AND A FAN DANCE TROUPE BEFORE THE OPENING CEREMONY GOT UNDER WAY.
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