Speech by CS at &amp;quot;Thousands of Years at a Glance: Exploring Ancient Chinese Civilization - visit to Hong Kong Palace Museum&amp;quot; (5.12.2023)
5.12.2023

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at "Thousands of Years at a Glance: Exploring Ancient Chinese Civilization - visit to Hong Kong Palace Museum" today (December 5): Acting Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Mr Li Yongsheng), Mrs Betty Fung (Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join Acting Commissioner Li and Betty in welcoming you all to the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Home to more than 900 priceless treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Hong Kong Palace Museum also presents continuing exhibitions. Today, I am delighted to introduce you to "Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan". The exhibition is particularly meaningful, as it showcases the latest archaeological excavations at Sanxingdui for the very first time in a major exhibition beyond Sichuan. Sanxingdui provides concrete proof of the existence of a regional cultural centre, with its distinctive features, that played a large part in the formation and development of the wider Chinese civilisation. In July, President Xi Jinping visited the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan to see for himself the impressive excavation and research achievements of the heritage sites. To celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Hong Kong Palace Museum brings together archaeological artefacts from various cultural institutions and museums in Sichuan. They include 120 remarkable bronze, jade, gold, and ceramic objects dating back some 2 600 to 4 500 years. I'm sure visitors, including you all, will be impressed with this outstanding aspect of China's long history. Apart from the Sanxingdui exhibition, you're welcome to visit the many other exhibitions on display in this world-class museum. The Hong Kong SAR Government, with the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, is committed to developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. In realising this important goal, we are working closely with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. And that very much includes the Hong Kong Palace Museum. We are also actively driving the development of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong. As our Chief Executive noted in his Policy Address delivered in October, we are stepping up efforts to promote Chinese culture. Next year, we will establish the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and organise for the first time the Chinese Culture Festival. We will boost financial and manpower resources to expand cultural exchanges and collaborations between Hong Kong and Mainland China, as well as the rest of the world. I am grateful to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the Hong Kong SAR for its continuing support for the Government's cultural efforts. And my thanks today to you all for joining me on this exploration of China's remarkable arts and cultural history. Please enjoy your time at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. I hope to see you again here very soon. Thank you. Ends/Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Issued at HKT 11:58 NNNN