Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (seventh right); Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Joe Wong (sixth right); Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu (fourth left); Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) Society Victor Cha (seventh left); Chairperson of the Development Committee of the HKAF Society Betty Cheng (sixth left); and other guests officiate at the cake-cutting ceremony during the  launching of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Foundation and Hong Kong Arts Festival 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Oct 25, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong is striving to develop into an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, a positioning supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Tuesday.

Lee said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will launch a new 10-year development blueprint on arts and cultural infrastructural facilities, and set up a new fund to support the hosting of arts and cultural mega events in Hong Kong.

Lee said the HKSAR government will give full play to the city’s unique role as a bridge between the country and the world and step up efforts to promote Chinese culture

“In my Policy Address, I announced new measures to expedite Hong Kong's progression into an arts and cultural hub connecting Hong Kong with all parts of the world,” Lee said at the launching ceremony of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Foundation and Hong Kong Arts Festival 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

“We will also expand the support to budding arts troupes and young artists,” he added.

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Lee said the HKSAR government will give full play to the city’s unique role as a bridge between the country and the world and step up efforts to promote Chinese culture.

“We will tell the captivating stories of Hong Kong in the global arena. We endeavour to establish Hong Kong as our country's premier venue of showcasing the successful amalgam of traditional Chinese culture, and international and contemporary presentations,” he said.

“Here and now would be a good start to all of our endeavours. Now, as our renowned Hong Kong Arts Festival turns a new page to the next 50 years of success, and here, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the latest world-class addition to our burgeoning West Kowloon Cultural District, complete with a spectacular display of priceless Chinese treasures and remarkable international masterpieces,” he added.

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