Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China at Sha Tin Park.

The Bazaar Carnival, which is being held from today until October 29, features 75 market stalls that offer specialty foods and hometown products from across the country. Citizens and tourists can also enjoy diverse cultural performances.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said the event is jointly organised by the Home Affairs Department and 28 provincial-level clansmen associations, showcasing each province’s unique food, culture and customs.

Additionally, he noted that the clansmen associations have been playing an important role in Hong Kong’s development, facilitating exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the motherland in various areas and deepening the friendship between the people of both places.

Mr Chan said he hopes that the clansmen associations will continue to make good use of their extensive connections to promote exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland provinces.

He also expressed that he looks forward to the associations advancing their work with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to build Hong Kong into a place for top talent, enabling the city to play its unique role as a super connector and super value-adder, as well as creating opportunities for the country's opening up to the world and realising high-quality development.