Hong Kong Launches Inaugural Performing Arts Expo to Foster Global Cultural Connections

Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (with photos/video)

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) hosted by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council today (October 14):

尊敬的王松苗秘書長 (Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Wang Songmiao), 李永勝副特派員 (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Li Yongsheng), Kenneth (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Kenneth Fok), Wilfred (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Fund Advisory Committee, Dr Wilfred Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening.

On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to welcome you all to the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo.

HKPAX provides a comprehensive platform for showcasing top-notch performing arts productions from the international and local community, as well as promoting exchanges and collaborations to create business opportunities for these programmes and creative talents.

The first HKPAX has received an overwhelming response, with strong support from our country and friends from around the world. More than 1 400 delegates from over 60 countries and regions are participating in HKPAX and sharing their artistic visions and creations with us.

Hong Kong is a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures. We enjoy the distinct advantage of having strong support from our motherland and being closely connected to the world. These, together with our world-class arts and culture facilities and pluralistic arts environment, pave the way for us to further develop the city's role as a cultural hub for the region and the world.

HKPAX is much more than a market. It is a platform for making connections, exchanging ideas and fostering collaborations.

For friends coming from abroad, please get to know the many and varied local artists and arts groups through various performances, showcases, pitches and other activities, and exchange innovative ideas on the artistic front. Also, do not miss the opportunity to get to know the rapidly emerging cultural cities in our motherland, especially those in the Greater Bay Area.

Right after HKPAX, we will host the 2024 Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, which aims to promote integration, exchanges and collaborations, and enrich the cultural soft power of the Greater Bay Area. We hope that these two mega events will synergise and complement each other, and provide you, the visitors, and the people of Hong Kong with quality arts and cultural offerings.

The HKSAR Government is committed to strengthening Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. With your enthusiastic support for the event, HKPAX has succeeded in establishing itself as an important platform for new artistic connections and exchanges, and has made a mark for Hong Kong in the world of performing arts.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members and staff of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for their tireless efforts in planning and organising HKPAX. My special thanks also go to all our partners, participating arts leaders and practitioners from Hong Kong, the Mainland and around the world. HKPAX would not be possible without your support and participation.

Last but not least, I wish HKPAX every success, and hope you all enjoy the exciting programmes of HKPAX and your stay in our beautiful city in the coming days.

Thank you. And now, I would like to say a few words in Cantonese.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West

With support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO San Francisco), four Hong Kong feature films, ranging from restored masterpieces to recent award-winners, were showcased at film festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seattle from late April to mid-May. The screenings drew more than 1 500 moviegoers across seven showings, highlighting the enthusiasm for Hong Kong cinema in the region.

Among the classics was "The Arch", restored in 4K as part of the M+ Restored, an initiative by the museum of contemporary visual culture in Hong Kong that aims to increase the visibility of Hong Kong's rich cinematic heritage through the restoration of nine feature-length films. First premiered at the 1968 San Francisco International Film Festival, the newly restored film returned to the spotlight as a highlight of the festival's 2026 edition, 58 years after its original debut.

The Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Mr Bernard Chan, attended the San Francisco screening of "The Arch" on April 30 (San Francisco time). "By sharing M+ Restored films internationally, we aim to strengthen global recognition of Hong Kong's cinematic legacy and its influence on world cinema, which is a very important part of Hong Kong and Asia's contemporary visual culture," he said. In addition to San Francisco, the film was also shown at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive of the University of California, Berkeley on May 3 (Berkeley time).

Another landmark film restored through M+ Restored is "Love Massacre", a 1981 Hong Kong New Wave classic. It was featured in the Hong Kong Cinema Showcase at the CAAMFest 2026 in San Francisco. The film's cinematographer, Brian Lai, travelled from Hong Kong to attend the screening and took part in a post-screening sharing session with the audience on May 10 (San Francisco time). He also met with local media at a reception hosted by HKETO San Francisco the day before, sharing insights from the film's production and restoration, in which he played an active role.

In addition to timeless classics, recent Hong Kong films were also featured. Released last year, "Another World" was among the Hong Kong titles shown at the 42nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. This fantasy animated film, directed by Tommy Ng, is the highest-grossing Hong Kong animation to date. To celebrate Hong Kong cinema, a pre-screening reception was held at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles on May 1 (Los Angeles time).

Another recent highlight was "Sons of the Neon Night", a major crime thriller featuring a star-studded cast of Hong Kong action legends. The film swept the Hong Kong Film Awards 2026 by winning eight awards. It was selected for the Hong Kong showcase at the 52nd Seattle International Film Festival with a screening on May 16 (Seattle time).

At various festival events, the Director of the HKETO San Francisco, Mr DC Cheung, thanked the organisers for their long-standing partnership in bringing Hong Kong movies to the Western United States. He also acknowledged support from the Film Development Fund and the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong.

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO San Francisco champions Hong Kong cinema at Film Festivals in US West Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases