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Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, told visitors to the Hong Kong Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennial that Hong Kong would emerge from the SARS crisis to be more beautiful and energetic than before.
Officiating at the opening of the Hong Kong Pavilion yesterday (June 13), Dr Ho said, "Hong Kong is embarking on a relaunch campaign, a campaign aims not only to restore the confidence of our people, but also reassure the world that Hong Kong is a safe and healthy place to visit.
"Highlights of the campaign on cultural aspects include a Cultural Industries Festival, an Asia Cultural Cooperation Conference and an International Symposium on Art in Public Space."
He said, "Although the SARS crisis has cost us dearly, many of our advantages have been rediscovered - the transparency of our information network, the professionalism of our medical staff and the community spirit demonstrated by our people."
Among those present at the opening ceremony were artists from Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
This is the second time that Hong Kong takes part in the Venice Biennial, which is highly regarded as the Expo of International Arts. Hong Kong's work, presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, first appeared in this international arena in 2001 under the name of "Hong Kong, China."
Dr Ho also told reporters covering the opening ceremony of Hong Kong's strengths as a world city where information and ideas flow freely.
In the afternoon, he attended the opening of the Singapore Pavilion. He then hosted a dinner for over 110 artists from Asian regions, including Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore as well as Chinese artists based in France and Canada to discuss arts development and to exchange ideas for cooperation.
Today Dr Ho will continue his discussions on arts development with several artists at a breakfast meeting. He will then visit a number of arts exhibitions and have lunch with several leaders of Chinese community in Venice before ending his visit in the afternoon.
End/Saturday, June 14, 2003
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