Hong Kong people will have the opportunity to celebrate traditional Chinese culture and the city's reunion with its motherland through the HKSAR 10th Anniversary and International Confucius Celebration from October 2 to 7.

Jointly organized by the People's Government of Shandong Province, The Confucian Academy and Ta Kung Pao in Hong Kong, the 6-day event aims to commemorate the 2,557th birth anniversary of Confucius, China's most famous thinker and teacher of all teachers.

"Shandong is the home province of Confucius," said Huang Zecun, Director of the Foreign Publicity Office for the provincial government. "With full support from the central authorities, we consider it our mission to introduce Confucius' teachings to the Hong Kong public."

Local enthusiasts can pay tribute to the great philosopher alongside fellow Chinese from the mainland and overseas, as they gather at the public memorial ceremony at the Hong Kong Stadium on October 7.

The largest ever Confucius memorial in history, it will feature music and dance performances by the Qufu troupe from East China's Shandong Province, various mainland and local artists, and mass recitation of Confucius' teachings.

"We're expecting over 20,000 people to show up," said Tong Yun-kai, president for The Confucian Academy.

"It'll be a remarkable celebration, not only of the wisdom of Confucius but also of our city's return to the motherland in the cultural arena," Tong added.

The memorial activities will include a Confucian cultural exhibition from October 2 to 4. It will showcase over 100 pictures and objects that shed light on the life and philosophy of Confucius, and their impact on the world's civilization.

Confucian specialists from the United States, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the mainland will also come together at an international symposium on Confucianism and its significance in the present-day society, which will be held on October 7.

"Hosting such a symposium in Hong Kong has very special significance," said Liang Xiyu, Deputy General Manager for Ta Kung Pao. "It will prove that we can still spread traditional Chinese values in a highly globalized society."

Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), Kong Fuzi in Chinese, has had far-reaching impact on both Chinese and world cultures for more than 2,000 years.

His doctrines of love, fidelity, modesty and self-discipline have shaped the minds of many Chinese as well as people in other East Asian countries and regions.

(HK Edition 09/19/2007 page6)