Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor gives a speech at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Cultural Core, June 21, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

A new cultural and education recreation center that offers all-around support for teachers and students opened in Kowloon on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to the country.

The Hong Kong Cultural Core, a five-story building formerly known as Mei Kwun Mansion on Shanghai Street in Mong Kok, was transformed from a residential building with over 50 years of history

The Hong Kong Cultural Core, a five-story building formerly known as Mei Kwun Mansion on Shanghai Street in Mong Kok, was transformed from a residential building with over 50 years of history.

The Cultural Core was established to provide a comfortable experience and environment for teachers and students, as well as to fuel Hong Kong’s drive to be a hub for art and cultural Exchanges between China and the rest of the world under the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

With an area of over 21,000 square feet (1,950 square meters), the venue include two full-floor bookstores, an education center for students, a training and communication center for teachers, and a supermarket that sells mainly teaching supplies.

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It was jointly established by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, one of the city’s major education groups with over 49,000 members; and the Bauhinia Cultural Holdings Ltd’s Sino United Publishing Group.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the cultural landmark, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the venue’s establishment is significant because it will promote the city’s national education and cultural development.

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Also speaking at the event was chief executive-designate John Lee Ka-chiu, who said the young generation is the future of Hong Kong. He also said the teachers’ mission is not just to pass on common knowledge, but also to cultivate students to be an ideal, responsible and law-obedient generation that bears the country in mind when looking to the world to make a contribution to the city, the country and even the world.