Lin Miaoke, the girl who became an instant star with her performance of Ode to the Motherland at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, will make a guest appearance at a Christmas charity event in Kwun Tong today.
Hongkongers will, for the first time, hear the pretty nine-year-old sing. Miaoke was at the centre of controversy when it was revealed that she had lip-synched to the voice of another girl deemed not pretty enough to appear. However, anyone expecting to hear her rendition of Ode to the Motherland will be disappointed.
'She will sing Jingle Bells and a Chinese song which will not be disclosed until the performance,' said Maureen Fung Sau-yim, general manager for leasing at Sun Hung Kai Properties, which runs the APM mall where Miaoke will appear at 1.45pm.
Seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, the girl whose angelic voice was heard around the world but who did not make the Olympics stage, has not been invited.
'We originally wanted to invite Zhang Zilin, the first-ever Miss World from China, but then we thought there should be children for a Christmas function. We are glad that we can have Miaoke and we have only invited Miaoke,' Ms Fung said.
The Sunday Morning Post tried to reach Miaoke for an interview but was told by the agency making the arrangements that only e-mail questions would be allowed. Questions about the Olympics opening ceremony went unanswered.