Speech by Acting CS at opening ceremony of “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” special exhibition (English only)
Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the opening ceremony of the "The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris" special exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum this evening (June 25):
Consul General Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Christile Drulhe), Mrs Corréard (Chief Executive Officer of Les Arts Décoratifs, Mrs Sylvie Corréard), Mr Figueras (Director of International Development and Production of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Mr Yvon Figueras), Winnie (Chairman of Hong Kong Palace Museum Board, Ms Winnie Tam), Joe (Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Joe Wong), Betty (Chief Executive Officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mrs Betty Fung), Louis (Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum, Dr Louis Ng), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. ​It is my great pleasure to be here for the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Palace Museum's special exhibition "The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris". I warmly welcome our esteemed guests coming all the way from Paris to Hong Kong. The year of 2024 is an especially important year to celebrate our friendship with France on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the China-France diplomatic relations. We would like to thank you for your wonderful support in bringing the amazing arts and culture from France to Hong Kong.
"The Adorned Body" is a magnificent exhibition. It tells a fascinating story about French fashion, which has had immense global influence for the past two centuries. Over 300 exquisite pieces of French costumes and accessories from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries will be shown. Almost all of the exhibits will be displayed in Asia for the first time, and some of them have never been seen outside France or even Paris. It is our honour to have such a comprehensive and beautiful collection of historical clothing, jewellery and fashion accessory pieces from France exhibited in Hong Kong. Taking place at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which houses the imperial costume and jewellery pieces from the Qing dynasty, this exhibition can be viewed in an intercultural context, demonstrating the blend of Chinese and Western cultures in our city. I am confident that the extraordinary beauty of the historical French fashion and its cultural significance will further strengthen our people-to-people exchange and mutual admiration between China and France, which are deep-rooted with present-day resonance.
This exhibition is one of the four in the West Kowloon Cultural District this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The staging of these exhibitions and other international projects is fully in line with the goal of our Government to further develop Hong Kong into a major destination for cultural tourism and the East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange. With our cultural pluralism and international outlook, we are well placed to be one of the world's finest cultural cities for generations to come.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs team, which has made it possible for our residents and tourists from far and near to enjoy these stunning treasures of fashion and jewellery from their prestigious collection.
Before I close, I also would like to congratulate the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Hong Kong Palace Museum on making this exceptional exhibition a reality by collaborating with the Paris team.
I wish the exhibition a huge success and everyone here an enjoyable day. Thank you.