Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of ASEAN Film Festival 2026 (English only)
*****************************************************************************
Deputy Commissioner Hua You (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)), Consul-General Muzambli Markam (Dean of ASEAN Consuls-General in Hong Kong and Consul-General of Malaysia in Hong Kong), Chairman Daryl Ng (Chairman of Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation), Commissioner Nicholas Ho (Commissioner for Belt and Road), Consuls-General, the Honorable Vivian Kong (Legislative Council Member), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am delighted to join you once again at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Film Festival.
As we gather for the fourth edition of this vibrant festival, I am delighted to see it growing from strength to strength. This year marks a milestone, with an unprecedented participation of 20 economies - including nine first-time participants such as the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR. Through the universal language of music and storytelling woven into these films, this festival will undoubtedly deepen cultural understanding and forge closer bonds among ASEAN countries and our friends from around the region.
But this event is about far more than just screenings - it is fundamentally about connection and collaboration. These themes resonate profoundly with Hong Kong's strategic positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. Over the coming weeks, our city will host a dynamic lineup of sharing sessions, networking events, and collaborative dialogues. These exchanges are not merely cultural; they are essential to building lasting partnerships and genuine friendships.
As the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, I am proud that our Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) is sponsoring select programmes this year. Our aim is to help provide more valuable opportunities for Hong Kong's own film professionals to engage with the ASEAN community and beyond, fostering mutual learning and creative synergy.
Specifically, CCIDA is co-presenting the screenings of two local productions - "Last Song for You" and "Band Four" - alongside a dedicated networking reception and a post-screening talk with Hong Kong filmmakers. I sincerely hope these events will spark meaningful dialogues and insightful exchanges between our local creative sectors and distinguished visitors from ASEAN.
Hong Kong's film industry remains a cornerstone of our pride and identity. The Hong Kong SAR Government is steadfast in its commitment to supporting our filmmakers through targeted initiatives. Through the Film Development Fund, we nurture emerging talent, back original local productions, encourage international co-productions, and showcase Hong Kong cinema on the global stage.
Beyond the silver screen, we are actively integrating film with tourism to bring our cinematic culture into everyday life. In the past two years, we have launched two immersive and distinctive film set exhibitions - the "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" and the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey". I warmly invite those of you who have yet to experience them to do so, and discover the unique ambience of the Hong Kong cinema firsthand.
Before I close, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation for organising this wonderful event. I wish the ASEAN Film Festival 2026 every success, and everyone here a very pleasant evening. Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, August 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:15
Issued at HKT 19:15
NNNN