Speeches

Speech by CS at the Lunch Reception for the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2015 (English only)

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the Lunch Reception for the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2015 today (December 7):

Minister Luo (雒樹剛, Ministry of Culture), Honourable Delegates, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum (ACCF). It is indeed an honour for Hong Kong to host this meaningful event for the ninth time. This is the second time for me to host lunch for this distinguished group of cultural leaders from the Asian region in my capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration and I am happy to see some familiar faces and meet new friends.

As a free and open society, Hong Kong has always been a hub of new ideas and cultural exchange in Asia. Our Government is committed to playing an active role in stimulating cultural growth and facilitating vibrant development of culture and arts across the region. We believe that cooperation and exchanges in arts and culture are the basic blocks for building friendship among countries and improving our quality of life.

In the light of the Belt and Road Initiative, which advocates, among other things, the strengthening of the “people to people bond” across the Belt and Road economies and enhancing cultural exchanges, this year’s ACCF serves as a timely platform for leaders in the region to share information, knowledge and experience. Through cultural exchange and cooperation, we would together grow and excel in a much more fantastic way. Not only will we be more able to understand and appreciate each other’s culture, but our friendships and connectivity will also be strengthened.

As Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) Authority, I am an advocate of this year’s theme – “community participation in sustainable cultural development”. Indeed, the development of arts and culture has always been a people-oriented and community-driven process, and this mega WKCD project would not succeed without adequate public participation. While public bodies endeavour to shape a facilitating environment and formulate suitable impetus for ideas and creations to flourish, the actual participation and involvement of people and the community is of no less importance for society to become culturally rich. I trust that the panel discussion session this morning has provided you all with a resourceful and insightful exchange of views and experience, and the discussion among cultural leaders has brought out new ideas on how we can build up community support for long term cultural developments in the region. I look forward to forging closer cultural ties among our cities and countries, bringing our cultural cooperation to new heights.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is sparing no efforts, on both hardware and software fronts, in creating an environment conducive to the development of arts and culture. For example, we are undertaking a number of measures to nurture local art professionals, including artists and art administrators, as well as to build audience. We are also pressing ahead with the West Kowloon Cultural District project, a long-term strategic investment made by our Government, and proudly one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the globe. We have been closely engaging the local arts sector and the wider community in the planning of the project as we believe that the West Kowloon Cultural District should meant to be a project for everyone. I am glad to share with you that the 40-hectare site fronting our iconic Victoria Harbour is going through a steady yet unsung transformation, and the cultural facilities therein would be open to the public by phases starting from 2016. I sincerely wish that, next time when you visit Hong Kong, you will put this Cultural District in your itinerary to have a first-hand taste of the cultural aura of our city.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you again for attending this year’s ACCF. May I wish our cultural friends of the Asian region a most enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.