Hong Kong Festival successfully expands

Hong Kong Festival successfully expands September 2010

The Hong Kong Festival had much more to offer in its second year with a wider variety of movies, last minute extra screenings, a photography exhibition and a ballroom dinner and dance. Organised by the Hong Kong NZ Business Association (HKNZBA), and sponsored by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Hong Kong Economic Trade Office (HKETO), the second annual week-long event featured a number of elements that brought the modern sights, sounds and tastes of Hong Kong to Auckland.

The key event was the Hong Kong Film Festival that featured an impressive collection of eight new films from Hong Kong. The festival kicked off on August 12 with a cocktail party and lion dance performance by kung fu master Jacky Luk at Rialto Cinemas. This was followed by the premiere screening of “City under Siege”, an action film that premiered in Hong Kong on the same day. Additional screenings of award-winning film “Echoes of the Rainbow” extended the film festival by three days after initial sessions were sold out.

HKNZBA President Felix Lee says that although the HKNZBA is a business association, it believes business dealings are very much intertwined with arts, culture, entertainment and food. The festival concluded with a “Celebrate Hong Kong” banquet and dance at The Langham ballroom on August 19. Over 200 guests from the Auckland business community attended the mid-winter celebration which featured traditional Hong Kong food, DJ music and some of Auckland’s hip young Chinese performers.

Benjamin Chau Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC, told those attending that New Zealand businesses have utilised opportunities given by the Festival to improve business relationships with Hong Kong businesses. Other special guests on the night included: Bonnie Shek, Director of HKTDC for NZ & Australia, Yongchuan Li, Acting Consul General from The Consulate Office of the PRC in Auckland, Linda Law, Deputy Director of HK Economic & Trade Office and Mike Lee, Chairman of the Auckland Regional Council. During August a photography display exploring the various facets of Hong Kong was on display at the Rialto Shopping Centre too. Felix Lee expressed special thanks to sponsors - HKTDC, HKETO, The Langham, Rialto Cinemas, Xia, Multi Media, Auckland City Council, Yealand Estate, Moment and Flipmind and media partners The NZ Chinese Herald and Mandarin Pages. Click here to see festival photos.