The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, attended the opening ceremony and a forum at the first Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo (the Expo) today (September 20) in Dunhuang, Gansu.

     Organised by the Ministry of Culture, the Expo aims to promote cultural exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will participate in the Expo's annual cultural exhibition under the theme "Interactive Times". It will showcase eight sets of new media artworks created by nine Hong Kong artists including animation, projection displays and interactive installations, which seek to explore the significance of interaction in the modern world. The exhibition will be held from September 20 to October 8.

     While visiting Dunhuang, Mr Lau met with the Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), Mr Liu Yuzhu, to discuss ways of strengthening co-operation. Since the SACH and the Home Affairs Bureau signed a co-operation agreement in 2011, multiple large-scale exhibitions have been held to enable Hong Kong people to appreciate precious cultural artefacts and learn more about Chinese culture. Hong Kong museum staff have also attended a number of relevant Mainland training programmes.

     Mr Lau also attended a forum on the conservation and continuation of the Silk Road's cultural heritage held by the SACH, to learn more about the value and function of the Silk Road's cultural heritage, help boost international exchange and co-operation on the conservation of its cultural heritage, and promote the conservation and continuation of its cultural heritage.

     Mr Lau will attend Expo activities and the closing ceremony tomorrow (September 21). He will depart for Hong Kong in the morning on September 22.

Ends/Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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