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     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) 40th Anniversary Flagship Exhibition cum celebration ceremony of the reopening of the HKAC this afternoon (September 29):
 
Mrs Yang (Chairman of Board of Governors of HKAC, Mrs Dominica Yang), Connie (Executive Director of HKAC, Ms Connie Lam], Anthony (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Anthony Chow), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon. I’m delighted to be here for the opening of the 40th Anniversary Flagship Exhibition and the reopening of the Hong Kong Arts Centre. It is certainly a time for celebration.
 
     The Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong’s sole independent, non-profit, multi-arts institution, reopens following a sweeping renovation of nearly three years. The result, I’m pleased and proud to say, is an Arts Centre that is more environmentally friendly, more accessible and more sustainable. It is poised and primed to promote Hong Kong and Asian contemporary arts and culture to our community, to the region, and to the world. For that, I’m grateful to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Trust, together with private donations, led the way in funding the refurbishment.
 
     The reopening of the Hong Kong Arts Centre is marked by a major exhibition which will be open to the public tomorrow – “Wan Chai Grammatica: Past, Present, Future Tense”. For that, my congratulations to the exhibition’s guest curator, Valerie Doran. Rooted in the creative district that is Wan Chai, the exhibition is multi-generational, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural, featuring some 20 artists either from Hong Kong or intimately connected with our city. The exhibition marks the return of the Arts Centre’s flagship exhibition series, an annual event designed to enrich our art scene. As someone who was brought up in Wan Chai, in a tenement building on Gloucester Road not far from here, the theme of this exhibition carries some personal attachment.
 
     On several previous occasions of speaking at the Arts Centre’s functions, I mentioned my personal experience, not so much as a neighbour to this wonderful facility, but as a mother bringing her young children to come to the Arts Centre for different types of extra curricula activities. I was therefore pleased to be able to offer some tangible support for the Arts Centre by hosting its anniversary fundraising gala at Government House in March this year, during which outstanding artwork was auctioned to raise funds in support of the Arts Centre and its community programmes. I did so because I believe in the Arts Centre and its mission. I also believe in the power of the arts to make Hong Kong as culturally vital as it is economically vibrant.
 
     My Government is determined to realise that goal. In this year’s budget, we set aside HK$20 billion to develop and expand our cultural facilities. We also added HK$500 million to boost our museum collections and holding exhibitions.
 
     And one of the world’s biggest cultural projects, the West Kowloon Cultural District is rising by the waterfront here in Hong Kong. By end of the year, I’m pleased to say, the Xiqu Centre, the Cultural District’s dedicated Chinese opera house, will open. This will be followed by the Art Park and the Freespace outdoor performance venue which is targeted to open in 2019. The East Kowloon Cultural Centre now under construction is due for completion in late 2020. Meanwhile, the foundation works for the Lyric Theatre Complex, a performing arts venue for a wide variety of events including drama and musical performance with a focus on dance, have started with a target of opening in 2022.
 
     On the visual arts side, the West Kowloon Cultural District will feature two world class museums as well, namely the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Together with the renovated Hong Kong Museum of Art which is due to reopen next year, we do expect a very vibrant art and cultural scene in the future, right here in Hong Kong.
 
     The reopening of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, with its renovated space and facilities, will no doubt be an important part of the picture. We wish Arts Centre every success in the next 40 years, and will continue to count on the Arts Centre to, as stated in its vision statement, enhance Hong Kong’s position as an artistically vibrant city through the promotion of contemporary arts and arts education for the whole community.
 
     I am sure you will enjoy the Hong Kong Arts Centre’s 40th Anniversary celebration. I wish you all a memorable day. Thank you very much.

    

     In support of International Coastal Clean-up Day, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Underwater Association again jointly held a coastal clean-up campaign at Sharp Island in Sai Kung toda… read more

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (September 29) held an open day at the Staff Training Institute (STI) in Stanley with the theme “STI 60 Years and Beyond” to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the STI.

     The Chairman of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, Dr Alex Chan, and the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Lam Kwok-leung, officiated at the opening ceremony.
      
     Tertiary and secondary students, ethnic minority teenagers, non-governmental organisation members that co-operate with the CSD, CSD staff and their family members participated in the event and learned about the history and development of the STI and were given a demonstration of the professional training it provides.

     To showcase the STI’s advancement in various fields of professional training throughout the past 60 years, an exhibition was held for visitors to gain a thorough understanding of the STI’s important milestones through exhibition boards, hologram videos and interactive quizzes. Since its establishment in 1958, the STI has always strived to meet the Department’s human resources needs by introducing and hosting relevant training and development courses, thus equipping staff with professional knowledge required to discharge their duties effectively.
      
     Today, the STI provides over 60 training and development courses annually ranging from recruitment training and professional development to tactical training and knowledge management. It aims to upgrade the skills and capabilities of the team members of the Correctional Services and enable them to meet public expectations and handle challenges at work.
      
     Virtual reality training, a guided scenario training facilities tour and adventure wall climbing were arranged for visitors to experience various types of professional training provided by the Institute. A flammable liquid detector, weapons and anti-riot equipment were also on display for visitors. Visitors were able to take photos while wearing simulated anti-riot gear or take part in a physical fitness test to gain an understanding of the entry requirements for Correctional Services staff.

     A foot drill performance was presented by members of the CSD Guard of Honour. Visitors could also enjoy performances by the Dog Unit and Tactical demonstrations by the Regional Response Team.
      
     Four serving and retired CSD staff members spoke to the media during the Open Day, including a father and his daughter. The father, a retired CSD Officer, said that he encouraged his daughter to join the Department so as to help enable the rehabilitation of offenders and their reintegration into society. In addition, two CSD staff members of Indian and Pakistani descent encouraged ethnic minority members who share the Department’s values on safe custody and rehabilitation and are passionate about serving society to join the Department to enjoy good career prospects and serve the community. read more

     The eighth annual Hong Kong Cinema, presented by SFFILM in partnership with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, the United States, will showcase works by some of Hong Kong’s emerging film talents. The festival opened this evening (September 28, San Francisco time) with “Tomorrow Is Another Day”, the first feature film directed and written by screenwriter Chan Tai-lee. Of the seven movies in this year’s line-up, five were directed by new directors and rising stars.

     At the opening night reception, the Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Mr Michael Yau, said he was pleased that SFFILM was taking notice of Hong Kong’s up and coming film talents. One of these new directors, Jevons Au, also joined the reception. “Distinction”, a social drama about Hong Kong’s educational system is Au’s feature debut. Other movies included in this series, “Vampire Cleanup Department”, “Somewhere Beyond the Mist” and “The Brink” are all debut features, noted Mr Yau.

     “It’s exciting to be celebrating such fresh talent in this year’s programme,” said SFFILM Senior Programmer Mr Rod Armstrong. “With a record number of debut features that delve into social realism, action-packed thrills, and other exiting arenas, the 2018 line-up not only demonstrates a regional shift of support for the next generation of filmmakers, but also an impressively broad range of subject matter.”

     Mr Yau added that “Somewhere Beyond the Mist”, a winning project under the First Feature Film Initiative launched in 2013 to nurture new film talents, and “Tomorrow is Another Day”, were financed by the Film Development Fund (FDF). “Since its inception in 2007, the FDF has financed over 30 film projects involving funding of over US$11 million. These films have won nearly 100 awards at local and overseas film festivals,” he said.

     The cast of the opening night film, “Tomorrow Is Another Day”, includes a mixture of veterans and new actors whose acting skills have already been recognised. Ling Man-lung was named Best New Performer at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards for his role as an autistic teenager, and Teresa Mo, who played his mother in the movie, won Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. “I hope you will enjoy the movie this evening and the superb acting skills of the two generations,” Mr Yau said.

     Other programme highlights of this three-day festival include a musical biopic, “House of the Rising Sons”, and a documentary portrait of an artist, “I’ve got the Blues”.

      

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has received confirmation from the Consulate General of Myanmar in Hong Kong that, with effect from October 1, 2018, HKSAR passport holders may apply for a t… read more