President Xi Jinping visited the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) this afternoon (June 29), accompanied by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung; the Chief Executive-elect, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Board of the WKCD Authority, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah.

     Witnessed by President Xi, Mr Leung and Mrs Lam, Mr Cheung and the Director of the Palace Museum, Dr Shan Jixiang, signed the collaborative agreement of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) which marked the formal commencement of the project.

     The HKPM will showcase exquisite collections of the Palace Museum on a long-term basis and in a comprehensive and in-depth manner. It will complement other arts and cultural facilities in the WKCD and help realise the vision of the WKCD.

     During the visit, Mr Lau introduced two child artists of Cantonese opera to President Xi, who chatted with them and enjoyed their singing performance.

     President Xi viewed exhibition panels and models to learn more about the arts and cultural development in Hong Kong and the WKCD project. The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Betty Fung, also gave a briefing on the WKCD project, the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage and its collaboration with the Palace Museum.

     The WKCD is being developed into a world-class integrated arts and cultural district comprising local, traditional and international elements on a 40-hectare site in Hong Kong.

   

Ends/Thursday, June 29, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:39

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