Chicago Opens Arms and Hearts to Hong Kong Culture in May

All Chicagoans Encouraged to Experience Month-Long Activities
Celebrating Hong Kong’s Vitality through Film, Music and Multimedia Displays

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Ng /David Hsieh at 212-752-3320
Daniel McAtee at 202-238-6360
Wing Yan Tong at 415-835-9315

Chicago, IL - April 30, 2009 - The Windy City will welcome representatives from Hong Kong to embrace the island’s unique culture, creativity and economic vitality starting May 1. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), the representative office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, today announced the launch of the Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009 Festival (the festival) – held in conjunction with the city’s month-long celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

“Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009 will lead the Chicago community to experience the diverse culture of Hong Kong, which is a legacy of its colorful past, and the vitality of its present” said Monica Chen, Director of HKETONY.

“In a showcase of their talents, and through arts exhibits, films, music performances, educational symposiums and gallery talks, the festival will offer an opportunity for Chicagoans to learn about the evolving ‘modern heritage’ of our continuously vibrant and transformative city,” said Chen.

The festival brings together internationally acclaimed artists through a series of events, including:
• Film screenings from Hong Kong’s next generation of filmmakers
• Networking event highlighting Hong Kong’s position as a gateway to China
• Photo exhibition featuring the five attributes of present-day Hong Kong: Cosmopolitan, Connected, Enterprising, Innovative, A Leader
• Contemporary music concert featuring Hong Kong and U.S. composers
• A dim sum and wine pairing event to showcase Hong Kong as a wine-distribution and gourmet center
• Luncheon about Hong Kong's cultural developments and collaborations with southern China provinces
• Gallery talks about Chinese art by highly acclaimed professors
• A multimedia exhibition showcasing Hong Kong through the eyes of students from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism

Ms. Chen added that she is proud to bring the best of Asia’s world city to The Windy City as both cities offer an explosion of cultural activity, stunning architecture, and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods.

Ms. Chen noted that at this period of economic challenges, we are entrenching our stronghold in our established pillars of economy. Furthermore, Hong Kong is fully geared towards opening new frontiers.
Ms. Chen added that we are enriching our art and cultural scenes, and further fostering our creative industries. With the complete removal of our wine duty, Hong Kong is developing into the wine trading hub of Asia.

Hong Kong Comes to Chicago 2009 is hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, and supported in part by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The month-long celebrations are also in partnership with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Asian Affairs, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the Gene Siskel Film Center and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism.

Many of the events taking place are free to the public, but registration is required. For more information about the events, please visit our website: www.hongkongcomestochicago.com.