Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of Hong Kong International Cultural Summit 2026 (English only)
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WestK Chairman Mr Bernard Chan (Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority), Deputy Director-General Lin Zhan (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, cultural leaders, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. This is my great pleasure to join you all at the second Hong Kong International Cultural Summit. A special welcome to our speakers, moderators and delegates who have travelled from across the world to join us today. We are truly delighted to have you here.
Some of you may have joined us last year for the Museum Summit 2025, where we explored how museums can "go beyond" their traditional roles - through technology, sustainability, tourism and even wellness. I still vividly recall the energy and the many thought-provoking conversations from that event. Today, we build on that momentum. This year, our focus is the broader connection between the arts and the community.
We are gathering at an especially exciting time for Hong Kong - because in March, art is everywhere in our city. During the past weekend, many of you may have experienced ComplexCon, a global pop culture festival that takes place in Hong Kong as its only regional stop. Later this week, Art Central and Art Basel Hong Kong will open their doors, showcasing galleries from around the world. Alongside these events, we are in the midst of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Now in its 54th edition, this acclaimed festival presents leading local and international artists across all performing arts genres, from classical music to contemporary dance, while also commissioning new works by Hong Kong's creative talents.
And the momentum will continue beyond March. From April to June, the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival returns for its fourth edition. With the theme "Beyond Fantasy", it will explore how imagination across generations has shaped Hong Kong's unique pop culture. Then from June to September, the Chinese Culture Festival will take centre stage. As the world's interest in understanding Chinese culture is growing exponentially, Hong Kong has a unique role in promoting and showcasing our country's culture to the world, leveraging on our deep roots in Chinese culture and long and vast international connection.
And right here, at the West Kowloon Cultural District, the WestK, where we are gathered today, a rich array of exhibitions and programmes unfolds all year round. Indeed, art is everywhere - in our galleries, on our streets, and in our theatres. It is woven into everyday life. And the way we connect through art is constantly evolving. This is precisely why we are here. Under the theme "A New Era: Reimagining Community through the Arts", this Summit invites us to explore how we can respond to change, and how we can ensure that arts continue to bring people together, no matter how communities themselves may transform.
We are witnessing growing geopolitical complexity around the world. In times like these, culture matters more than ever. Culture transcends borders. It builds understanding when all other forms of dialogue seem to fall short. Hong Kong, deeply rooted in Chinese culture while maintaining a long history of global connection, is fully committed to strengthening our role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
I am proud to share that this vision is also a national priority. This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China. The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government will proactively align with the Plan, and we are in fact drawing up our own plan, an important element of which will no doubt be facilitating greater arts and cultural exchanges between the Chinese Mainland and overseas countries. This Summit is an integral part of that proud mission.
Hong Kong's strength in global cultural connectivity is also reflected in our position as a leading arts trading hub. Later this month, we will finalise the details of our collaboration with Art Basel for the next five years. This is the result of sustained investment in our role as a global financial centre, cross-sectoral collaboration, and a shared commitment to make Hong Kong a place where the arts can truly flourish.
Our commitment to strengthening Hong Kong's arts ecosystem extends beyond trading to world-class infrastructure. Just last Wednesday (March 18), the Hong Kong Airport Authority reached an important milestone by successfully engaging an experienced operator for running a new premium art and valuable storage facility in SKYTOPIA, our "Airport City" in development. This stand-alone facility dedicated for art and valuable storages will splendidly synergise with other high-end projects in the airport and the art trading ecosystem in Hong Kong.
Before I conclude, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, for his outstanding leadership in organising this Summit. We look forward to the WestK's continued development - including the completion of new facilities - as it propels the growth of Hong Kong’s arts and creative scene, and becomes one of the city’s signature destinations that you, your family, your friends will continue to return to.
To our guests - once again, welcome to Hong Kong! I wish you a productive and inspiring Summit. And I hope you take time to explore our city, soak up its energy, and discover the hidden gems. Thank you.
Ends/Monday, March 23, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:59
Issued at HKT 10:59
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