The opening ceremony and reception for Shanghai Culture Week, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, was held today (August 2) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC). The first programme, "The House of Wulong", a classic play of the Qi School performed by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, was staged at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC immediately after the ceremony, marking the opening of Shanghai Culture Week.

     Addressing the opening ceremony and reception, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that, as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, Hong Kong is tasked with the mission of connecting China with the world and has a responsibility to promote traditional Chinese culture to the world. This year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and organised the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) designating Shanghai as its focal city. The LCSD is copresenting Shanghai Culture Week this time to enable members of the public and visitors to appreciate and experience the unique charm of Shanghai's culture and to foster cultural exchanges.

     Other officiating guests included Deputy Director General of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism Mr Jin Lei and Vice President of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival Ms Yang Jialu.

     The opening programme of Shanghai Culture Week, "The House of Wulong", is a classic work by Peking opera maestro Zhou Xinfang (stage name Qilintong), performed by Chen Shaoyun, an esteemed performing artist of Peking opera and a recipient of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, who led national-class performers Lu Su and Yang Yang in the performance. The Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company will also perform the Shanghai-style Peking opera "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" (Parts One and Two) at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC on August 3 and 4 respectively. This play recreates an exquisite set design and showcases the various skills of the actors in both civil and military highlights. Also, under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Tang Muhai, the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra will stage two performances of Shanghai-style Chinese music in "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" (concert version) on August 5 at Hong Kong City Hall, and on August 6 at Tsuen Wan Town Hall. In the concerts, the Orchestra will showcase the beauty of Chinese music through the blending of traditional and modern styles.

     "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Fragrance of Time – In Search of Chinese Art of Scent" exhibition, currently being held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) until October 16, is also one of the events of Shanghai Culture Week. The exhibition features exhibits from the Shanghai Museum collection, all classified as national-graded treasures, as well as the collection of the HKMoA, which include ceramics, bronze objects, bamboo carvings, calligraphy and paintings spanning the Neolithic period to the 20th century, taking audiences on an olfactory journey over thousands of years. Moreover, the Jiading District Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Protection Office will organise the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Illuminates Life" Intangible Cultural Heritage Cultural Exchange Showcase at the foyer of the HKCC on August 3. ICH items of traditional craftsmanship and handicraft arts including Jiading bamboo carvings, Xuhang yellow grass-weaving, indigo-dyed cloth printing and dyeing techniques, the guqin-making technique, art of tea, Suzhou embroidery, and gold thread and gemstone inlay techniques will be featured. Through appreciating Jiading's ICH items, audience members can immerse themselves in the distinctive charm of Jiangnan and Shanghai cultures, forging a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture. Admission to the ICH exhibition is free.

     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is being held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.
 
     The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

    

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, concluded the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation's visit to three countries (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) together with the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Dr Peter Lam; the Chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Agnes Chan; the Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Jonathan Choi; and the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Bonnie Chan, at a media session in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam today (August 2). Following is the transcript of remarks by Mr Lee:
 
Chief Executive: This is the first official visit to Vietnam by a Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).
 
     I had the pleasure of meeting the President and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, as well as the Chairman of the People’s Committee and the Deputy Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City.
      
     The delegation visited the manufacturing facility of a Hong Kong enterprise in Vietnam, attended a business luncheon meeting, and exchanged views with local business leaders from different sectors.
      
     The visit to Vietnam has been fruitful, resulting in the exchange of 30 memoranda of understanding (MOUs). With this positive momentum, co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam is opening up multiple new opportunities.
      
     Today is the end of our six-day visit to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. I would like to take this opportunity to summarise our visit.
      
     During our six-day trip, we visited four cities across the three countries and participated in some-30 events. These included meetings with senior leaders and officials, visits to enterprises and Belt and Road projects, exchanges with the business communities in the four cities, and engaging in activities to promote people-to-people connections.
      
     We have achieved five key results:
      
     First, we have enhanced government-to-government relations and communications. This is the first official visit by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR to these three ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. I thank the leaders of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam for attaching great importance to our visit.
      
     Second, we have achieved fruitful results in co-operation and mutual development.
      
     Hong Kong signed with the three countries a total of 55 agreements or memoranda of understanding, 12 with Laos, 13 with Cambodia, and 30 with Vietnam, covering a wide range of co-operative areas, such as trade and economic partnership, investment, customs collaboration, education, cultural exchanges and tourism promotion.
      
     Third, we lay a solid foundation for future collaboration between Hong Kong and ASEAN, fostering new developments and new opportunities in such areas as trade and investment, financial development, and innovation and technology.
      
     Fourth, we share a strong will in contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong can provide a rich pool of professional expertise in investment and financing, talent management, operation and network in supporting the developments in the Belt and Road regions.
      
     Fifth, we have confirmed the support from the three countries’ governments for Hong Kong in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
      
     I express gratitude to the leaders of the three countries, including the current ASEAN Chair, Laos, who reaffirmed their support for Hong Kong's early accession to RCEP.
      
     The delegation will soon depart for Hong Kong. Our work, however, will continue. Members of the delegation will share their insights and experiences of the visit through their extensive networks. Thank you.
 
Reporter: Good afternoon, sir. Firstly, congratulations on your official visit to Vietnam. We have two questions. The first one is please tell us about the objectives and the significance of your visit in Ho Chi Minh City. And the second one is, as a major financial centre in Asia and the world, what will Hong Kong do to promote the co-operation opportunities with Ho Chi Minh City in building a regional financial centre, as well as promoting economic co-operation between the two sides in general?
 
Chief Executive: I came to visit three countries of ASEAN – Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam – with the clear objectives of building government-to-government ties, building business-to-business co-operation and promoting people-to-people exchange. So, we have also been meeting a lot of people and have successfully signed memoranda on co-operation, or co-operation intent, in some 15 areas. We have signed MOUs with 12 entities in Laos, 13 entities in Cambodia, and 30 entities in Vietnam. And these entities, of course, include our government counterparts and also the private sector. We are very happy that the visit has reaped all these good results. But what is even more important is the goodwill that we have built, and the friendship that we have created and strengthened.
 
     There are five results which are achieved in this visit. First, we have enhanced government-to-government relations and communication. And we have achieved fruitful results in co-operation and mutual development, for example, with the 55 MOUs that we have signed. We have also laid down a strong foundation for future co-operation, collaboration and fostering new development and new opportunities. Fourth, we share a strong will in contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative. And fifth, thanks to the three governments, we have again received a clear indication of support from the three governments for Hong Kong to join RCEP early. These, I think, mean that there is a very strong and common will in strengthening ties and creating co-operation opportunities and helping each other.
 
     As regards economic co-operation between various parties, in particular in regard to the question of financial centre, because in our communication with the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, they have explained to me their determination and commitment to develop the city into a financial centre. In fact, one of the MOUs was signed between the Hong Kong government's Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau with the Ministry of Finance, and the agreement is on communication and knowledge exchange in relation to finance matters. Our experience as an international financial centre tells us that a financial centre covers a wide range of business activities, investment opportunities. Besides trading in stocks, or listings, it also covers bonds issuance, derivatives, the banking sector, ease of doing business, and relevant regulations and laws. And of course, talents are important. Fintech, for example, is an area that I think all of us must do well in order to ensure our competitiveness.
 
     So we will be doing a lot to communicate with our counterparts in these three countries. We are very willing to share our experiences, to assist in capacity building and also to help each other in developing good regulations and laws, talents and technological skill in regard to financial matters.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

  

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 2) led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to continue their visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on the last day of their visit to three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. He met with local government and business leaders, and visited a garment manufacturer to learn more about current developments in Vietnam.
      
     In the morning, Mr Lee met with the Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Mr Nguyen Ho Hai, to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. Noting the rapid economic development of Ho Chi Minh City and the city's aspiration of developing into an international financial centre, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is willing to share its experience as a leading international financial centre and explore collaboration opportunities with Ho Chi Minh City.
      
     Mr Lee and the delegation then visited Tessellation Binh Duong, a garment manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong, to learn more about its experience in its business development in Vietnam.
      
     At noon, Mr Lee and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Phan Van Mai, attended a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Enterprises and organisations of Hong Kong and Vietnam exchanged 22 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in various areas at the luncheon. Addressing over 200 government and business representatives of Vietnam at the luncheon, Mr Lee remarked that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in ASEAN and Hong Kong's seventh-largest trading partner, highlighting the close economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
      
     Mr Lee met with Mr Phan after the luncheon. Noting that Hong Kong and Vietnam are important economic partners, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong and Vietnam will strengthen co-operation on various aspects in the future, including high-level visits and engagements.
      
     Mr Lee then met with representatives of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam. He appealed to the association to make good use of Hong Kong's superb financial, logistics and professional services and so on to explore overseas and Mainland markets. He also said that the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office will continue to maintain close communication with the business community of Vietnam, with a view to further boosting bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
      
     During Mr Lee's visit in Vietnam, representatives of the governments, organisations and enterprises of Hong Kong and Vietnam exchanged a total of 30 MOUs in areas including trade and economic partnerships, investment, customs collaboration, education, logistics co-operation, tourism promotions, technological co-operation, aviation services, as well as financial, banking and capital market development.
      
     Concluding his visit, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong signed a total of 55 MOUs and agreements with Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam during the trip. He noted that the visit had achieved five results, including strengthening government-to-government relations and communications; reaching consensus on areas of development and co-operation; consolidating and expanding business networks, injecting new impetus to open up new horizons and opportunities; enhancing a shared strong will to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative; and reaffirming the three countries' continuous support for Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
      
     Mr Lee and the delegation will return to Hong Kong tonight.
      

                                

     The three-day Cyber Attack and Defence Elite Training cum Tournament (CADET2), co-organised by the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC), successfully concluded today (August 2). Apart from providing cyber security personnel with training in cyber attack and defence, the CADET2 also enhanced their professional skills and incident response capabilities through simulated cyber attack competitions to comprehensively strengthen cyber security in Hong Kong.

     Training of the same kind has been held for the fourth time. This year, in addition to incorporating penetration testing the two-day hands-on cyber attack and defence training,, which allowed participants from various organisations to exchanges ideas, a one-day competition event was also held for the first time to provide a platform for industry and academic elites to practise the skills they have learnt, and to utilise their knowledge of cyber attack and defence by participating in both online and physical competitions and testing their capabilities to respond to cyber incidents.

     The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, noted that the newly-established DPO will keep implementing different policies and measures to enhance the cyber defence capacity of government personnel, hoping that the industry will work together with the Government to enhance the barriers on digital security and contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s digital economy.

     The Chief Superintendent of the CSTCB, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, stated that cyber attacks were on the rise, and once the critical infrastructures were under attack, leakage of sensitive data and serious disruption on the normal operation of society might occur. Therefore, the capabilities of cyber security personnel and managers to respond to attacks, as well as the cyber security levels of their organisations were particularly important.

     The Chief Executive Officer of the HKIRC, Mr Wong Ka-wai, also pointed out that cultivating cyber security talents was crucial to Hong Kong’s digital future. He hoped that the tournament would help identify promising young talents, allowing them to engage with top industry experts and enhance their professionalism.

     The event provided cyber attack and defence training for a total of 160 personnel from more than 70 organisations, and attracted over 300 teams, comprising 740 industry and academic elites, to participate in the tournament.

     The organisers believed that the active participation of stakeholders could enhance the cyber security level in Hong Kong and strengthen collaboration among various stakeholders.

            

     The Hong Kong's NextGen Logistician Awards 2024 will open for nominations tomorrow (August 3) to recognise young talents in the logistics industry who have made significant achievements and shown remarkable potential in innovative, high-end, smart and green logistics.

     The Awards is a new annual award for the logistics industry advocated by the Transport and Logistics Bureau in the Action Plan on Modern Logistics Development, and is co-organised by various sectors of Hong Kong's logistics trade with the support of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL). It aims to commend outstanding young logisticians and, through the success stories of the award winners, introduce the new development directions of modern logistics to the public, with a view to attracting more young people to join the industry to propel its continual growth.

     Hong Kong-registered companies or organisations with a core business focus on logistics are invited to submit nominations for any of the three categories of the Awards listed below:
 

     â€‹The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2024. Companies or organisations and the nominees shall email the completed nomination form together with other required documents and information to logisticianawards@tlb.gov.hk. In each award category, there will be no limit on the number of winners or assignment of different award levels. Nominees who meet the benchmark scores set by the judging panel will receive an award.

     Details of the Awards and the nomination form are available on the LOGSCOUNCIL website (www.logisticshk.gov.hk/en/awards/index.html). For enquiries, please call 3509 7263.