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| No.2 February, 2010 |
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Hong Kong lantern to light up Auckland Festival |
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 Hong Kong's haute cuisine and fine wine were star attractions at this year's Chinese Lantern Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, with the display of a dazzling lantern celebrating one of the world's most spectacular cities.
The three-day festival - officially launched on February 26 by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key - celebrated its 11th anniversary and has become one of Auckland's biggest annual events, attracting more than 200,000 visitors.
This is the third year the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (HKETO) has taken part in the Auckland Lantern Festival. The lantern displayed this year featured fine food and wine against a backdrop of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks.
"Hong Kong is known to the world as a leading financial centre, but we are also renowned for our fine food and wine," HKETO Director, Ms Lorna Wong, said. "Hong Kong is the culinary capital of Asia. Apart from enjoying the best Cantonese and regional Chinese food, visitors can sample a full choice of authentic Asian cuisines and Western dishes."
Ms Wong said Hong Kong was experiencing an "overnight success story" in the growth of the wine industry following the abolition of import duty in 2008. "New Zealand is our eighth largest supplier of wine by value and the number of New Zealand exhibitors at the Hong Kong International Wine Fair increased from seven in 2008 to 40 last year," she said.
Hong Kong and New Zealand signed an Arrangement on Cooperation on Wine-related Business last October to strengthen co-operation in the promotion of wine-related trade, investment, tourism and education and in the fight against counterfeit wine.
Ms Wong said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government was delighted to celebrate Chinese New Year with the people of Auckland at the lantern festival. She said the large number of visitors provided an excellent opportunity to promote the many facets of Hong Kong.
At a festival marquee, booklets and leaflets introducing Hong Kong as well as souvenir items were distributed.
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