Speech by CS at Fine Art Asia 2014 opening ceremony (English only) (with photos/video)

Speech by CS at Fine Art Asia 2014 opening ceremony (English only) (with photos/video)
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     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of Fine Art Asia 2014 this afternoon (October 3):

Andy, Calvin (Co-chairmen and Directors of Fine Art Asia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you all today at the Opening Ceremony of Fine Art Asia 2014.

     I would like to first congratulate Fine Art Asia for celebrating its 10th edition this year. As a home-grown event founded and organised by Hong Kong art experts since 2006, the annual fair has provided a vibrant platform for the art world and has been recognised as a world-class art fair presenting a unique combination of art and antiquities from both East and West. I am very glad to learn that the Fair last year, which I also attended and opened, attracted a record 32 000 visitors. This year, Fine Art Asia will once again showcase a wide array of high-quality artworks presented by 100 world-renowned galleries.

     As we all know, Hong Kong is an international cultural metropolis with a distinct identity grounded in Chinese traditions and enriched by its cultural diversity. In addition to an increasing number of private art galleries, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been working hard to enhance the vibrancy of the cultural scene in Hong Kong by partnering with local and international renowned artists and art organisations to stage various exhibitions throughout the year. The recent "Paris - Chinese Painting: Legacy of the 20th Century Chinese Masters" exhibition, which has just closed last week, is one of the many examples. The development of the West Kowloon Cultural District also clearly underscores the commitment of the Government to enhance Hong Kong's position as an international art and culture hub.

     The art fair business certainly has an important role to play in contributing to the diversity of our cultural scene. I am sure that Fine Art Asia will continue to build on its position as a key annual art event in the international cultural calendar and make the city a sought-after destination among people from the art world.

     May I wish Fine Art Asia 2014 a remarkable success and all of you a very pleasant and enjoyable visit. Thank you very much.

Ends/Friday, October 3, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:34

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