The special guest was Mr. Gao Yu-chen, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR. From the Hong Kong SAR Government were Mr. Wong Yan-lung, Secretary for Justice, the guest of honour, Mr. Tsang Yuk-sing, President of the Legislative Council, Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health, Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment, Mrs. Rita Lau, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, and Mr. Tony Nguyen, Director of Protocol.
Other distinctive guests from Israel were Captain Ofer Aloni and Captain Zeev Ben Dor, senior captains of El Al Israel Airlines and former combat pilots of Israel Defence Forces.
The hall was crowded with about 600 guests, including consuls-general, rabbis and leaders of the Hong Kong Jewish community, Chairman of Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, local business leaders and friends of Israel.
Ambassador Amikam Levy, Consul General of the State of Israel in Hong Kong and Macau, said in his speech that the secret of success of the State of Israel flourishing in the desert for 62 years was the human assets. It is not only based on the Israeli people’s determination, faith and abilities, it also lies in the power to think outside the box. “Creativity for us is a fundamental value,” he said.
He also highlighted the thriving relationship between Israel and Hong Kong and the potential co-operation in fields such as alternative energy, water technology, homeland security, environmental technologies and infrastructures.
Following the official ceremony, PercaDu, a world class Israeli percussion duo of Tomer Yariv and Adi Morag, performed for the guests, with a series of works by Piazzolla, Bach and Liszt, among others.