​The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, has started his visit to Shanghai. Last night (January 23), Mr Lau met with the Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV, Ms Yu Xiufen, to explore ways to strengthen cultural ties between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
      
     Mr Lau and representatives of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today (January 24) visited the Power Station of Art and Theatre Above to gain insights into the latest developments of Shanghai's cultural sector. They also discussed with the relevant person-in-charge opportunities offered by artistic venues in Shanghai for Hong Kong arts groups.
      
     To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, a number of Hong Kong arts groups such as the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Ballet went to Shanghai to perform last year. In addition, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department invited the Shanghai Yue Opera Group to join the Chinese Opera Festival 2017. The two cities' governments wish to maintain close exchanges in the future, allowing more arts groups to perform or hold exhibitions in the two places.
      
     The delegation will continue the visit in Shanghai tomorrow (January 25).

Ends/Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:00

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