The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy, yesterday (May 11, Venice time).

     The Venice Biennale is an important contemporary art event. This year marked the third collaboration between the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) and the M+ museum of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) to showcase the work of a Hong Kong artist at the Biennale. This year, Hong Kong artist Samson Young has created a new body of work, using spatial sound installations and site-specific works as the axis and presenting drawings, videos and objects to reframe the popularity of charity singles from a historical angle.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lau said, the Hong Kong Government has all along been promoting the development of arts and culture and building Hong Kong into an international cultural metropolis. The first batch of facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District will come into operation in the next two years, including the Xiqu Centre, the M+ museum and the Art Park with a black box theatre. In addition, M+ Pavilion was inaugurated last year.

     Mr Lau also attended the opening ceremonies of the Chinese Pavilion and the Macau Pavilion. Today (May 12, Venice time), Mr Lau will continue to visit pavilions of different countries and regions and other cultural facilities. At night, he will attend the gala dinner jointly organised by the HKADC and the M+ museum of the WKCDA.

     While in Venice, Mr Lau met with the Minister of Culture of the Veneto Regional Government, Mr Cristiano Corazzari, to identify opportunities for cultural co-operation.

     Mr Lau will depart Venice for Hong Kong in the afternoon tomorrow (May 13, Venice time) and arrive in Hong Kong in the afternoon on Sunday.

Ends/Friday, May 12, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:58

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