An exciting mega Latin-American culture show will be in full swing in Hong Kong and Macao from Oct.28 to the end of November, the group of Latin America Consulates (GRULAC) said here Wednesday.

"The sensational month-long line up of events celebrates all things in Latin America and is expected to take Hong Kong and Macao by storm," said Ricardo Forrester, the GRULA spokesman and consul general of Argentina in Hong Kong.

He said the GRULAC will make the show an annual event from 2004.

The "Latin America in Hong Kong" festival is co-launched by GRULAC members, which are the consulates of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela in Hong Kong. The eight countries will team up to bring their culture, traditions, and folklore to Asia through exhibitions, performances, cinema folkloric show, food tasting and open forums.

In the extravaganza of music, dance, arts and food, the festival is about to bring people together and celebrate the breadth and depth of Latin American cultural diversity, Forrester added.

A myriad of events will be staged during the festival, including colorful rhythm, arts and crafts exhibition, Latin gaze photo exhibition, and rooted music, festival on the beach, flea market and etc..

"This big event is not commercially aimed, but in long term, we believe it will enhance the economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong, Macao, and the Latin American countries, and bring more tourists to our region," said David Tang, counsel general of Cuba in Hong Kong.

"We are preparing a similar Hong Kong event back home and we need to know about Hong Kong and Macao as well," said Olga Forero De Silva, consul general of Colombia in Hong Kong.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2004)