Speech by CS at Launch Ceremony of JC Project MuSE (with photos/video)
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Launch Ceremony of the JC Project MuSE today (April 17):
Mr Michael Lee (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you tonight for the launch of the JC Project MuSE.
Let me start by congratulating the Hong Kong Jockey Club on its 140th anniversary. For over a century, the Club has played a major role in Hong Kong's growth. It has supported our city through good times and challenges, always standing strong as a pillar of progress.
Since 1993, the Club's charity arm, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, has worked tirelessly to improve lives, support communities, and shape our city's cultural landscape.
I am pleased to know that the Trust has just committed $1.4 billion to support youth development initiatives, including two strategic collaborations with our Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB).
The first project is the enhanced HYAB JC Scheme for Youth Life Planning. The Scheme supports NGOs, in collaboration with secondary schools, in organising life planning activities to help students better understand career pathways and opportunities arising from national development.
The second project will turn part of the Youth Square into a new interactive space where young people can gather, exchange ideas, develop their potential and participate in different activities.
Look around Hong Kong, and you will see the Trust's work. From helping to build the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, to revitalising heritage treasures such as Tai Kwun and conserving traditions like the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, the Trust's donations have inspired creativity, preserved heritage, and empowered generations.
These efforts align perfectly with the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government's mission to build an inclusive, creative, and vibrant Hong Kong, where arts and culture drive social progress and happiness for everyone.
Initiated and funded by the Trust, the JC Project MuSE continues this vision. Through cross-sector partnerships, the project offers free, high-quality, and tailored music and sports education programmes to over 10 000 underprivileged primary students, empowering them with diverse learning experiences and fostering whole-person development. A big thank you to the Trust for nurturing Hong Kong's young talent!
The initiative shares the Government's strategic focus on helping those most in need. Through collaboration between the Government, the business sector, and the community, the current-term Government has launched various targeted poverty alleviation projects.
One example is the Strive and Rise Programme. Thanks to the continuous support from enterprises and organisations, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Programme is now in its third cohort, with a total of over 10 000 secondary school participants from underprivileged families.
We have also implemented the School-based After School Care Service Scheme for primary students in need since 2023, providing them with care and learning support at school outside school hours, thereby relieving pressure on parents and enabling them to take up jobs.
Tonight's concert celebrates Hong Kong's musical spirit. You will hear performances by our promising young students, including Strive and Rise Programme mentees who are just beginning their musical journey, as well as world-famous artists. I am sure you will enjoy their performances this evening.
To everyone here tonight, thank you for supporting this meaningful cause. Let's continue working together to build a brighter future for Hong Kong.
I wish you all a wonderful evening filled with music, joy and inspiration. Thank you very much.
Speech by CS at Launch Ceremony of JC Project MuSE Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at Launch Ceremony of JC Project MuSE Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at Launch Ceremony of JC Project MuSE Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by USCST at opening ceremony of 40th International Travel Expo Hong Kong and 21st MICE Travel Expo
Following is the speech by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo (ITE) Hong Kong and 21st MICE Travel Expo today (June 11):
Mr Tong (Founder and Managing Director of TKS Exhibition Services, Mr Tong Kam-shing), (Vice Governor of the Fujian Provincial People's Government, Ms Jiang Erxiong), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), Director Zhang Dong (Director of the Asia Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China), Consuls General, friends from the trade, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am happy to join you at the opening ceremony of the 40th International Travel Expo and the 21st MICE Travel Expo. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government, I extend our warmest welcome to you all.
This 40th anniversary of the International Travel Expo is a historic milestone. I am delighted to see more than 400 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions gathered here. It is wonderful to see that the China Pavilion returns as the largest showcase this year, alongside new exhibitors joining from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Your presence is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong as a premier destination for business and leisure.
Last year, Hong Kong welcomed about 50 million visitors, a 12 per cent increase over 2024. This momentum has carried into 2026. In the first five months, we received about 23 million arrivals, a 14 per cent year-on-year growth. This robust performance fuels growth across our hotels, retail, and catering sectors.
Yet, Hong Kong's story is told not just in numbers, but in the unique experiences that blend culture, sports, and tourism. For sports fans, the excitement ranges from the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens to the Hong Kong Football Festival with legendary European clubs. For art lovers and cultural enthusiasts, we host premier global events like Art Basel, Art Central, ComplexCon and world-class concerts and exhibitions. Together with different flagship events organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), like the International Dragon Boat Races to be held later this month, the Wine & Dine Festival in end-October and the New Year Countdown, there is always a reason to visit.
As Asia's culinary capital, our vibrant dining scene is showcased by hosting the award ceremonies of World's 50 Best Bars in 2025 and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants this year. HKTB's "Taste Hong Kong" Gourmet Guide further amplifies this narrative, leading visitors to explore from the local flavours of "cha chaan tengs" to Michelin-starred dining.
The blend of lifestyle and professional pursuits makes Hong Kong a top "bleisure" destination. A critical driver of this visitor ecosystem is our Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. In 2025, there were about 2.5 million MICE visitors, a 7 per cent increase over 2024. The Government is committed to elevating Hong Kong's status as a premier MICE destination, and platforms like this Expo are pivotal to that goal.
This focus is amplified by Hong Kong's integral role within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which represents a vast, dynamic consumer market of over 86 million people. The excellent connectivity with the GBA unlocks the immense potential for "multi-destination" travel and elevates Hong Kong's value proposition as an unparalleled regional hub for business and tourism.
Looking ahead, the Government is charting a roadmap for sustainable growth of tourism. A key initiative is the proactive diversification of our visitor source market. We are very delighted to welcome a strong delegation of exhibitors from the Middle East to the Expo this year, which perfectly aligns with our ongoing efforts to expand Muslim-friendly tourism.
I encourage you not only to seize the business opportunities at this Expo but also to experience Hong Kong's vibrant pulse for yourselves.
Before I close, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to ITE 2026 for another year of success and wish everyone good health and prosperity. May your time in Hong Kong be rewarding and memorable.
Thank you.
The Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, Photo source: reference image
