LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On March 10, The Hon. Gloria Molina and The Hon. Mike Antonovich of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors commended the Hong Kong Tourism Board with the “Cultural Ambassador Award” at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration for its ongoing commitment to promote tourism and cultural ties between the city of Los Angeles and Hong Kong through the HKTB-USA’s selection of two performing groups from Southern California to perform in the International Chinese New Year Parade on January 26, 2009. These two cities serve as the anchor of the Pacific Rim and are historically linked by their people, economy and culture, according to the signed commendation.

Lillibeth Bishop, Publicity and Promotions Manager for the Hong Kong Tourism Board who was responsible for the selection of the Esperanza Flores Ballet Folklorico Dance Group and the Folklore Mexicano del Sur de California, accepted the commendation. “On behalf of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, I would like to thank the Board of Supervisors, particularly Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office, for this recognition. As well, I would like to thank Esperanza Flores and Gabriela Carbone of Folklore Mexicano Del Sur de California for sharing with the Hong Kong people the dazzling and vibrant colors of the Mexican performing arts which is a vital part of the California culture.”

The presentation of the commendation was televised on KLCS, a local government station in California.

Each year the Hong Kong Tourism Board sponsors local performance groups to represent the United States. In addition to the dance groups from California, the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders also performed at the Chinese New Year Parade in Hong Kong to kick off the Year of the Ox.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is a powerful governing body of elected government officials. It has the unique function of serving as the executive and legislative head of the largest and most complex county government in the United States. The Los Angeles County consists of 88 cities which also have their own city councils. If it were a nation, the Los Angeles County would have been the 18^th largest economy in the world.

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