Fifth Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Forum held in Hong Kong (with photos)

                                   

The Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Committee (HKTCCC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Cultural Co-operation Committee (THKCCC) held the Fifth Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Forum in Hong Kong today (August 21) to promote co-operation between the arts and cultural sectors and creative industries in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Participants from Hong Kong included the Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council (ECCPC), Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Director of the ECCPC, Mrs Betty Fung; the Convenor of the HKTCCC, Dr Fredric Mao; and HKTCCC members Ms Susie Chiang, Ms Tisa Ho, Dr Elvin Lee, Mr Gabriel Pang and Mr Mathias Woo. Participants from Taiwan included the Convenor of the THKCCC, Mr Lo Chih-cheng, as well as members of the THKCCC and representatives from the relevant sectors.

Addressing the opening of the forum, Dr Mao said, "Apart from facilitating cultural co-operation and strengthening partnership in the cultural and creative sectors between the two places, the Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Forum reaffirms the role of the arts and creative industries in various areas such as social development and the humanities, as well as their continued efforts to make an impact on the society and the younger generation."

A youth cultural and creativity camp was held in Hong Kong for the first time, under the themes of Chinese music, contemporary ink painting and comics. These three areas share rich Chinese cultural traditions and artistic characteristics of the two places. On August 19 and 20, around 40 participants from Hong Kong and Taiwan participated in workshops under the three themes, shared experience with arts professionals and budding arts entrepreneurs, and visited cultural landmarks such as PMQ and the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. They also participated in the forum's group discussion sessions.

At the forum, representatives from the two places conducted discussions and exchanges on the challenges and opportunities in talent grooming in respect of the sectors of the music; visual art and multimedia arts; and films, animation and comics, and games. The Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Mr Yan Huichang; independent curator and guest professor of the China Academy of Art and Director of Hanart TZ Gallery in Hong Kong, Mr Johnson Chang; and Mr Lo led the discussions of three groups respectively, and shared their outcomes in the concluding session. Participants of the Chinese music group of the youth cultural and creativity camp also gave a performance during the concluding session to showcase their learning achievements.

Mr Lau hosted a lunch reception for the Taiwan delegation and guests after the forum. He thanked the representatives from both Hong Kong and Taiwan for their attendance and continuous support for the work of the Cultural Co-operation Committees of the two places.

The HKTCCC was established as the Hong Kong counterpart of the Cultural Co-operation Committee under the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council in Taiwan. It aims to foster exchange, liaison and co-operation between the two places in the development of arts and culture and the creative industries, as well as to communicate and exchange information on issues of mutual concern.

Besides the Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Forum, Hong Kong Week, an eagerly anticipated annual cultural exchange event involving Hong Kong and Taiwan presented by the HKTCCC in association with the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (Taiwan) and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will be held in Taipei from September 10 to October 11 this year. Being held for the fourth time and with a theme this year of "Arts through Time", Hong Kong Week will feature a wide and exciting range of programmes and extension activities to showcase the creation and passing on of legacies in different artistic fields in Hong Kong, and the responses of artists to their present living and social environments. For programme details of "Hong Kong Week 2015@Taipei", please visit its official website at www.hongkongweek-taiwan.hk.

Friday, August 21, 2015