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During the WEF meeting, a renowned Hong Kong architect and artist Tao Ho will be presented with the Crystal Award.
The Crystal Award is presented to artists who, in addition to having won international recognition through their artistic achievements, have also contributed significantly to cross-cultural understanding. Since the creation of the Award in 1995, this is the first time that a Hong Kong artist is honoured by the WEF.
The WEF has chosen Mr Ho for the award in recognition of his outstanding and successful efforts to bridge Western and Chinese culture as well as his continuous endeavours to respect the environment,conserve traditional values and yet innovate.
Other award recipients will include Ustad Amjat Ali Khan, sarod player (India); Krzysztof Penderecki, composer and conductor (Poland); and Sir David Puttnam, film producer (Britain).
Mr Ho will participate in four WEF panel discussions on Reaffirming Cultural Diversity; History in the Arts; Tribes in the City; and The Artist in the Network Society.
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Safety measures at Victoria Harbour for fireworks display
The Marine Department, Marine Police and the Fire Services Department will jointly implement a series of traffic arrangement in Victoria Harbour on February 8 (Saturday) when the 1997 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display is held to ensure public safety.
The fireworks will be discharged from barges moored in Central Victoria Harbour off Wan Chai at 8 pm and will last for about 23 minutes. This year, a laser show will be staged simultaneously with the fireworks display to create special visual effects.
Announcing the details of the arrangement at a press conference today (Tuesday), Senior Marine Officer (Central Region) of the Marine Department, Mr Tsang Cheuk-yin, said it was envisaged that a large number of vessels carrying people to watch the display would congregate in Victoria Harbour in the evening.