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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, at the Hong Kong Design Centre Annual Awards Gala Dinner today (December 6):
Victor (Mr Victor Lo, Chairman of Hong Kong Design Centre), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great privilege to be here tonight at this Hong Kong Design Centre Annual Awards Gala Dinner, which is one of the key events of the week-long Business of Design Week (BODW) now being held in Hong Kong. It is also our great honour to have so many brilliant designers and business leaders from different parts of the world here this evening. May I first extend a very warm welcome to you all.
The Hong Kong Design Centre Awards offer us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate design excellence. I wish to congratulate all the winners. Their talents have excited the judges and impressed us all. Among the various awards this evening, I will present the Design Leadership Award, the World Outstanding Chinese Designer Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. No doubt these awardees have made significant contributions to the design and business communities, which set them apart from their peers and won them worldwide acclaim.
This gala evening is an important part of the BODW, which is a marquee event of the international design community calendar. It provides a valuable platform for the elites of the global design and business sectors to get together to share and network on design, innovation and branding. Each year, the BODW and its concurrent events attract around 100,000 participants. This year, we are very glad to have Belgium as our partner country. This offers us a close encounter with the Belgian spirit and inspirations, and allows us to better understand the dynamics of Belgian design, fashion and architecture. I am sure the BODW this year has brought to all the participants deep insights and lots of excitement.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been supporting the BODW and the Hong Kong Design Centre Awards since their inception a decade ago. We believe in the value of design and its unique contribution to the growth of our creative industries and the economy at large. In fact, the value-added of the design sector in Hong Kong has grown by more than two times since 2005, and it continues to grow. Our success is underlined by Hong Kong being at the crossroads of the fast-growing Mainland of China and the international economy which is eager to benefit from the booming Chinese market. Through the Hong Kong Design Centre Awards, Hong Kong not only showcases and recognises the tremendous success of our local designers, but also provides the best conduit for the worldwide design and business communities to conduct business, networking and knowledge sharing. On this, I must thank the Hong Kong Design Centre for bringing to us BODW and the Awards every year.
My appreciation also goes to all the co-organisers and supporting organisations as well as the renowned and distinguished speakers for their valuable contributions to the event. I hope all of you and in particular guests from outside Hong Kong a most enjoyable and fruitful time here.
May I take this opportunity to once again congratulate all the winners this evening, and before long, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, December 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:13
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