SCST visits Guangzhou (with photos)

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, met with Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province Mr Liu Hongbing in Guangzhou today (January 16). During the meeting, she briefed him on Hong Kong's recently released Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development (Blueprint) and the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0). She also talked about the mission and strategies of Hong Kong's development in arts, culture, creative industries and tourism. The Blueprint consolidates Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, while the Blueprint 2.0 focuses on enhancing travel experiences and promoting the concept of "+tourism", in a bid to strengthen the integration of culture, ecology, sports and tourism, develop diversified tourism products and initiatives with local and international characteristics, advocate the concept of "Everyone is a Tourism Ambassador", as well as to welcome visitors to Hong Kong with a radiant smile.
      
     Both parties exchanged views on cultural and tourism collaborations between Guangdong and Hong Kong in the future, explored ways to share arts and cultural resources and develop cross-boundary signature itineraries. Miss Law said that, by having close connections in culture and history, Hong Kong and Guangdong will explore more diverse cultural tourism initiatives through stronger collaborations in the future, with a view to attracting more international tourists, deepening people's understanding of the profound traditional cultural characteristics of the Lingnan legacy, and facilitating mutual cultural exchanges and economic development.
      
     Discussions on the preparatory works for the 15th National Games (NG) and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) were held between both sides, with the aim to promote the development of the sports industry in both Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
      
     After that, Miss Law and the delegation visited the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center to learn more about the work preparations, as the facility is one of the competition venues of the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. Knowing that the venue preparation is in good progress, Miss Law is looking forward to cohosting a simple, safe and wonderful Games with Guangdong.
      
     Miss Law began her itinerary in Guangzhou upon arrival yesterday afternoon (January 15). She cochaired the 12th Guangdong-Hong Kong Liaison Meeting on the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG with the Head of the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province, Mr Cui Jian. The Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, also attended the meeting.
      
     In order to further advance the preparatory work for the 15th NG and the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, Guangdong and Hong Kong established a regular liaison mechanism to hold Guangdong-Hong Kong Liaison Meetings in Guangzhou and Hong Kong regularly. Miss Law said, "This is the first time I have cochaired the meeting with Mr Cui in the capacity of the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. We had in-depth communications and exchanged views on various preparatory works to improve all suggestions and co-operation plans." In the meeting, the discussion was focused on the overall framework of competition events and the overall market development plan for Hong Kong, laying a solid foundation for a smooth operation.
      
     Miss Law watched the 43rd Guangdong – Hong Kong Cup (Round 1) last night with football fans in the Guangzhou Yuexiushan Stadium to personally show her support for mutual sports exchanges.
      
     She departed for Hong Kong at noon today.