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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said in Beijing today (June 23) that he hoped more exchange and co-operation in the area of culture and the arts between Hong Kong and the Mainland would help foster further collaboration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of "Beijing - 2008 Olympic Cultural Activities and Hong Kong and Macao Arts Festival cum 2008 Hong Kong and Macao Visual Arts Exhibition", Mr Tsang noted that more exchange and co-operation in culture and the arts between Hong Kong and the Mainland would help bring together the resources and talents of the two places, which will bring Chinese culture to the international arena.
The ceremony was held at the China Millennium Monument this afternoon. Mr Tsang said he hoped the Arts Festival and the Visual Arts Exhibition would help people in Beijing appreciate more Hong Kong's culture and arts.
"I hope that artists and arts groups of Hong Kong will have more opportunities to present their masterpieces in various Mainland cities and provinces in the future," Mr Tsang said.
Mr Tsang also met with the Deputy General Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Dong Baohua, this morning. Together with the Hong Kong delegation, he then met with the Vice-Minister of Culture, Mr Li Hongfeng, and members of the delegation from Macao to exchange views on further co-operation and development in the area of culture and the arts.
Mr Tsang will meet with the Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr Li Xueju, tomorrow (June 24) morning before returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon.
Ends/Monday, June 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:40
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