Destination Canada, a government agency that promotes Canadian tourism, held a ceremony in Vancouver on Wednesday to welcome the first group of 16 Chinese tourists since China resumed group travel to the North American country.
At Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is located at the heart of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown neighborhood, Destination Canada and Destination British Columbia held a ceremony to welcome the first group of Chinese tourists since the resumption.
A Canadian tourism official said in his speech that he warmly welcomes the arrival of the first Chinese tour group to Canada since the resumption of group travel.
He stressed that the Canadian tourism sector will continue to tap into the Chinese market and sincerely invites Chinese travelers to visit frequently, further deepening the friendship between the people of the two countries.
After the welcoming ceremony, Canadian tourism officials and Chinese tourists extended New Year's greetings to people in China.
Canada holds welcoming ceremony for Chinese visitors as group tourism resumes
The oath-taking ceremony for members of the eighth-term Legislative Council of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was held on Thursday, marking the official start of their four-year term.
The ceremony started at 11:00 local time, with HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu serving as the oath administrator.
The lawmakers, one by one, began to take an oath to uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and swear allegiance to the HKSAR after jointly singing the national anthem of China together with John Lee.
According to the HKSAR government, the taking of the oath is legally binding. The oath-taker must sincerely believe in and strictly abide by the relevant oath prescribed by law. An oath-taker who makes a false oath or who, after taking the oath, engages in conduct in breach of the oath, shall bear legal responsibility in accordance with law.
The eighth-term Legislative Council of the HKSAR is composed of 90 lawmakers -- 40 from the Election Committee constituency, 30 from functional constituencies, and 20 from geographical constituencies.
8th-term Legislative Council of HKSAR holds oath-taking ceremony
8th-term Legislative Council of HKSAR holds oath-taking ceremony
