Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto), Ms Emily Mo, joined the 32nd Dragon Ball held virtually on February 13. The event was hosted by Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation to celebrate the Year of the Ox with the business, political and community organisations in Canada.
In an interview for Dragon Ball, Ms Mo was delighted to note that Yee Hong had in the past years presented Hong Kong-themed performances and exhibitions at this annual event to showcase the dynamics of Hong Kong and offer audience in Canada a unique experience of the city’s local culture.
Noting Hong Kong is an international cultural metropolis where the eastern and western cultures meet, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to strengthening the city’s position as an international arts and culture metropolis. “We have been taking forward various projects of cultural and heritage with different themes. For example, the West Kowloon Cultural District - one of the world's largest cultural infrastructure projects, has formally entered its operational phase. The Xiqu Centre inside the District was commissioned in late 2019 and was featured in Dragon Ball 2020,” Ms Mo said.
“At the same time, we encourage Hong Kong art groups and artists to showcase to the world the cultural strength and artistic achievements of the city,” Ms Mo continued.
At this year’s Dragon Ball, two spectacular dance performances by the Hong Kong Dance Company would be featured. The first dance performance "Mazu" is about the story of a girl named Lin Mo who risked her life gathering medicinal herbs from the mountains to save others during an epidemic. The second dance performance "Convergence" is a crossover of Chinese Dance with Martial Arts, which captured the transient between stillness and motion, tranquility and exuberance.
Other Hong Kong-themed performances included a cooking demonstration by Hong Kong "Demon Chef" Alvin Leung together with Masterchef Canada winner Eric Chong, a singing performance by Hong Kong singer Joyce Cheng as well as Hong Kong milk tea and starch-dough figurine making demonstrations.
As the Dragon Ball was held on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Ms Mo took the opportunity to wish all viewers a prosperous and happy Year of the Ox.
香港經貿處支持2021年龍宴
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於二月十三日出席由頤康基金會舉辦的第三十二屆龍宴，與加拿大的政商界及社區團體慶祝牛年來臨。
巫菀菁在龍宴的訪問中，表示欣悉頤康過去每年都在龍宴加入以香港為題的表演項目及展覽，向加拿大的參加者展現香港活力澎湃的一面，並讓大家體驗香港獨特的本土文化。
香港是一個中西文化薈萃的國際大都會，香港特別行政區政府一直致力鞏固香港作為國際文化藝術樞紐的地位。巫菀菁表示：「我們已展開多個不同主題的文化項目，例如全球最大型文化基建項目之一的西九文化區已正式進入營運階段。區內的戲曲中心在二Ｏ一九年終啟用，我們亦於去年的龍宴作特別介紹。」
巫菀菁續說：「我們同時鼓勵香港藝術團體及表演者向世界展示香港的文化實力和藝術成就。」
今年龍宴特備兩齣由香港舞蹈團表演的舞劇，第一齣是《媽祖》，講述少女林默在瘟疫來襲期間，鋌而走險上山採藥挽救鄉親的故事。第二齣《凝》是舞蹈和武術的藝術結晶，舞者的動作構想別樹一格，時而蒼勁，時而婉約，塑造出豐富的舞動質感。
其他以香港為題的演出包括香港「廚魔」梁經倫伙拍加拿大Masterchef冠軍張華聰作烹飪示範、香港歌手鄭欣宜唱歌助慶，及香港奶茶和麵粉團公仔製作示範。
龍宴於大年初二舉行，巫菀菁藉此機會向觀眾拜年，祝賀牛年百業興旺，萬事勝意。
