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Speech by CS at opening reception of "The Legend of Mulan" in Sydney (English only) (with photos)
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     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at opening reception of "The Legend of Mulan" in Sydney today (September 17):

The Honourable Troy Grant, Consul General Li Huaxin, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. After seven long years, it's good to be back in the friendly, exciting, beautiful city of Sydney ¡V this time as the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, here to renew and reinforce our friendship with this wonderful nation. And wearing my other hat as Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, allow me to show off a bit of Hong Kong's artistic credentials.

     Sydney and Hong Kong have much in common. Both are great business cities. Sydney is, of course, a wonderful arts and cultural hub. And has been for long. Hong Kong is playing catch up: our vision is to also become an arts and cultural hub of international stature. And we are working on both our cultural software and hardware.

     Hong Kong has talent. And our status as a centre of arts and culture is rising, thanks to various new initiatives to enhance the arena, as well as new cultural spaces that have opened up and are taking shape.

     Tonight, at the Australian premiere of "The Legend of Mulan", Sydney will see some of Hong Kong's exciting performing arts talent in action. The Hong Kong Dance Company is one of our leading troupes. They have won applause at home and abroad.

     Without giving the game away, the Hong Kong Dance Company's presentation of the ancient Chinese classic of bravery, honour and high drama, fuses the modern and the traditional, East and West, in a uniquely Hong Kong style.

     The troupe is one of nine major performing arts groups in Hong Kong and has toured around the world, showcasing Hong Kong talent and creativity. We also have nearly 1 000 smaller troupes. Together, they stage over 8 000 performances every year, drawing millions.

     And throughout the year, a variety of arts festivals manifest the diversity and vibrancy of Hong Kong's cultural scene. Orchestras such as the renowned Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, jazz ensembles, film and art festivals, international acts, local superstars and street performers serve up a feast of exciting events throughout the year.

     The business of art is also thriving in Hong Kong, now the world's third-largest art auction market after New York and London. Art Basel in Hong Kong is a leading event in the international arts calendar. And our home grown Fine Art Asia is recognised by the international art world as Asia's leading fine art fair. Since its inception in 2006, Fine Art Asia has attracted an increasing number of leading international galleries while earning worldwide recognition.

     We are also building infrastructure to realise our vision. We have already converted a number of wonderful heritage buildings into arts spaces. Now, the 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District is taking shape on a dramatic harbourfront site. With an endowment of HK$21.6 billion (AUD3.8 billion) from the HKSAR Government, it's one of the largest cultural projects in the world. Set amidst open spaces comprising a park and a promenade, and overlooking our iconic Victoria Harbour and skyline, the complex will feature, in the heart of Hong Kong, a variety of arts and cultural facilities - ranging from a museum of contemporary visual culture called M+ to various venues dedicated to performing arts. Two of such venues are a Xiqu Centre devoted to Chinese operatic performances now under construction and a Lyric Theatre Complex with a focus on dance under detailed design. What's more, beyond the WKCD, we are pressing ahead with a new East Kowloon Cultural Centre providing an auditorium and a theatre; we are undertaking major renovation to the Hong Kong Museum of Art to enhance and expand its facilities; and we are actively exploring the provision of space for local artists and budding arts groups.

     All these developments will elevate Hong Kong into a prominent arts and cultural hub in our region and the world.

     Last but not the least, I wish the Hong Kong Dance Company's Sydney Season great success.

     Thank you and enjoy the show.

Ends/Thursday, September 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:27

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