HONG KONG, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's first International Festival of Inclusive Arts will be held from Dec. 2 to 10, and its opening Beat the Drum for Inclusion event will attempt to break a Guinness world record.

York Chow, secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) told a press conference on Thursday that as many as 11,000 participants will gather on both sides of Victoria Harbor in the Beat the Drum for Inclusion event, a mass percussion performance of the Earth Shall Move under the baton of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra artistic director Yan Huichang.

The festival's opening will be held on Dec. 2 to tie in with the promotion of the International Day of Disabled Persons, Chow said, adding the opening event will include the Saori Fashion Extravaganza and 18-District Giant Puppet Parade.

The festival will present five fabulous performances, fusing Chinese and Western music, dance and drama, and showcasing the artistic talents of local and overseas artists with and without disabilities.

"Through artistic creation, all people, regardless of their different abilities and challenges, can unleash their potential and develop their talent," said Chow.

He said the arts are an excellent means to enhance understanding and care among people. It is conducive for the disabled to integrate into society and will also help raise the community's living standard.

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau and the Arts with the Disabled Association of the HongKong Special Administrative Region will jointly run the festival. Enditem