Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Opening Ceremony of the Museum Summit 2025 today (March 28):
President Yannick Lintz (President of The Guimet, National Museum of Asian Arts), Deputy Director-General Long Jiayou (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage), Professor Douglas So (Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee), Consul-General Christile Drulhe (Consul General of France in Hong Kong), Secretary Rosanna Law (Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism), guests and friends from around the world, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here to welcome all of you to the Museum Summit 2025 in Hong Kong.
The Museum Summit, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, is now in its fourth edition. This year, we are greatly honoured to partner with the world renowned museum, The Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts of France.
Building on the success of our collaboration with the National Palace Museum, the British Museum and the Uffizi Gallery in past editions, the Summit has established itself as a highly acclaimed international event in the museum world. It is also an iconic mega event in our city's vibrant cultural calendar.
The previous edition of the Museum Summit, presented in 2023 shortly after the pandemic, was a remarkable success with over 2 000 registrants and more than 12 million online views. I am pleased to inform the Summit that, this year, the total registration has tripled to over 7 000, with one-third of registrants joining from the Mainland and overseas. In this edition, we will benefit from the perspicacity and insights of 30 plus speakers and moderators from globally famed museums and institutions across 17 countries. Your collective expertise will spark dialogues that transcend borders, fostering innovation and collaboration for the future of museums in different parts of the world. Also with us in this Summit are two delegations comprising over 40 museum experts from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Museum Alliance and the ASEAN countries. This stellar mix of participants is a strong testament to the increasing importance of the Summit and Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Under the overarching theme "Going Beyond", this year's Summit challenges us to reimagine museums as catalysts for new experiences, connections and impact. I eagerly anticipate presentations and discussions centred on the four sub-themes – namely tourism, technology, sustainability and wellness – which are not only relevant and inspiring for the museum sector, but also fitting and timely for the growing integration of culture, sports, tourism, cutting-edge technologies, and the rising focus on well-being worldwide.
Ladies and gentlemen, apart from enjoying the Summit, I invite you to go around the city and savour its vigour, especially the wide array of activities in our Hong Kong Super March. As part of this month-long culturally exuberant festival, the Museum Summit joins a host of extraordinary events, from the contemporary artistry of Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central, to the boisterous Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in our new Kai Tak Sports Park. So have fun immersing yourselves in the city's unique energy, diversity and attractions.
Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to The Guimet, our international partner, and other strategic partners, supporting organisations, event partners and sponsors for their generous and wonderful support.
I wish this year's Summit another runaway success. To our guests, may your time in Hong Kong be as rewarding as it is worth remembering. Thank you very much.
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