Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival 2019, as organised by the Tourism Commission, is launched today (November 30). Through collaboration amongst local artists, youngsters and Yim Tin Tsai villagers, the Arts Festival has turned Yim Tin Tsai into an "open museum", bringing a new and unique travel experience integrating arts, religion, culture, heritage and green elements to visitors.
 
     Spanning over three years, the Arts Festival bears three key concepts of "Sky, Earth and Man". This year's Arts Festival themed "Sky" is held from today to December 29. Seventeen groups of artworks created by local artists and youngsters are displayed at Yim Tin Tsai and Sai Kung Waterfront Park. A series of interactive activities including cultural ecology guided tours, salt-making and Hakka teacake-making workshops, themed talks, musical performances, etc. will be organised to provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the artistic atmosphere of Yim Tin Tsai and understand its history and culture.
 
     Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Arts Festival, the Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Joe Wong, said Sai Kung is known as the "back garden of Hong Kong". Yim Tin Tsai is a unique island in Sai Kung where Western Roman Catholicism blends with Chinese Hakka culture. The island is also blessed with mangroves and rich ecology.
 
     Mr Wong remarked that visitors could experience the artistic ambience, unique historical culture and natural beauty of Yim Tin Tsai in the Arts Festival. He hoped that the Arts Festival can also help introduce visitors to other attractions of Sai Kung where they can fully appreciate the beauty of the "back garden of Hong Kong".
 
     As announced in the Budget Speech last year, the Government would organise a new pilot initiative at Yim Tin Tsai which integrates multifarious tourism elements. With the support of Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and the villagers of Yim Tin Tsai, the Arts Festival is smoothly launched today after two years of collaboration.
 
     Seven local artists and over 70 students from the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Design Institute took part in the co-creation work of Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival 2019. After the Arts Festival, some of the artworks showcased will become permanent exhibits for visitors' appreciation.
 
     Elements of smart tourism are also incorporated into the Arts Festival. Visitors can make use of the QR codes attached to the artworks and signages to connect to the website of the Arts Festival, for better understanding of the stories of Yim Tin Tsai and the artists' creative ideas.
 
     In addition, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has set up a photo exhibition at Sai Kung Waterfront Park to introduce other attractions of Sai Kung, such that visitors could learn more about the beautiful landscape in the district. The exhibition will be held concurrently with the Arts Festival.
 
     For details of Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival 2019, please visit the website at www.YimTinTsaiArtsFestival.hk.

Ends/Saturday, November 30, 2019
Issued at HKT 12:36

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