2008 Hong Kong Arts Festival officially opens today Over 90% of all seats already sold

Febuary 14th, 2008

The Hong Kong Arts Festival is pleased to announce that the 36th Festival opens today on 14 February, with a performance of Swan Lake by the Stuttgart Ballet. Response to the Festival has been exceptionally strong – eight extra performances have been added as a result of the avid demand. As of today more than 90% of all performance tickets have been sold. Ticket sales will continue during the Festival period, from 14 February to 16 March 2008*.

The official opening of the 36th Hong Kong Arts Festival was held at 7:15pm today in the foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The Honourable Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR and Patron of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, officiated at the opening ceremony together with Mr Charles Lee, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society; Mr John C C Chan, GBS JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Tsang Tak-shing, Secretary for Home Affairs; Mr Vincent Cheng, Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; Mr Thomas Chow, JP, Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society.

This year the Festival will present over 100 performances and events featuring 31 performing groups - 22 from overseas and 9 from Hong Kong. As an annual international event, the Festival provides a focus for the best of international performing arts along with a vibrant contribution from Hong Kong's creative talent. It also includes a strong regional Asian component, and serves as serving as a showcase for the best contemporary and traditional performing arts from China.

For further enquiries, please contact Ms Katy Cheng, Marketing Director, at tel: 2824 3555.

* Chatroom + Citizenship of the National Theatre of Great Britain will open on 13 February, one day before the official opening. The final performance of The Shape of Things will be on 17 March, one day after the official closing.

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