Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of roving exhibition of "The Door Is Always Open: Tove Jansson and 80 Years of The Moomins"
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of the roving exhibition of "The Door Is Always Open: Tove Jansson and 80 Years of The Moomins" today (September 30):
Mr Timo Kantola (Consul General of Finland in Hong Kong and Macao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.I have great pleasure in joining you for the opening of "The Door Is Always Open: Tove Jansson and 80 Years of the Moomins" roving exhibition.
First of all, my sincere gratitude to Timo, the Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong and Macao, and the Hong Kong Public Libraries, for co-organising this most anticipated event. This is something Timo and I discussed a few months ago, and I am so pleased that the exhibition now materialises so nicely. I must thank you for inviting our citizens and visitors to join this global celebration.
2025 marks a significant milestone: 80 years of the Moomin stories. It all began in 1945, amid the shadows of a devastating war, when Tove Jansson introduced the first tale, The Moomins and the Great Flood. This story powerfully mirrored the reality of displaced people seeking refuge, with the Moominhouse standing as a timeless symbol of security, shelter and belonging, bringing hope and comfort for many. For generations since then, these beloved characters have guided and comforted young readers around the world.
Over the past eight decades, the Moomins have grown from beloved stories into a global cultural phenomenon. They have leapt from the pages of books into our everyday lives - through comics, animations, theatre, countless merchandise, and even theme parks. This profound impact has rightfully earned them a place in all hearts worldwide. Hong Kong is proud to be one of only two places in Asia with dedicated Moomin shops (one in Hong Kong and others in Japan), a testament to the special place they hold in our city.
As an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, Hong Kong is committed to leveraging our unique strength under "one country, two systems" to foster cultural exchange. We proudly play an active role in bringing in different cultures while enabling Chinese culture to go global.
Our collaboration with the Consulate General of Finland is a perfect example. By bringing this exhibition to the Hong Kong Central Library, and with storytelling sessions planned for different public libraries in October and November, we are sharing the magic of the Moomins with our community.
And the celebration doesn't stop there. The Moomins will also join our upcoming Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, which will be held at the end of October at the Central Harbourfront. Alongside meeting Moomintroll, Little My and Snufkin, visitors can enjoy Finnish wine and delicacies, savouring a true taste of Finland.
This exhibition would not be possible without the passion of Moomin fans worldwide and the dedicated efforts of CG (Consul General) Timo. We believe there is tremendous potential for Hong Kong and Finland to build on this partnership. We look forward to greater co-operation, because here in Hong Kong, as the exhibition's title reminds us, "the door is always open". Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by SITI at 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit today (January 16):
Professor Sun Dong, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms Qiu (Vice President of DLG Exhibitions & Events Co Ltd, Ms Qiu Haoming), Hendrick (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, Mr Hendrick Sin), Terry (Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong), Duncan (Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Duncan Chiu), Alex (President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Dr Alex Chung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am delighted to join you at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit.Today's theme, "Wake Up More!", is a call not only for any single company, city, or country but also a timely reminder for all of us to embrace a new era of intelligence, possibility, and shared responsibility.
A big thank you to the organiser for choosing Hong Kong as a destination for this remarkable Summit. This is another testament to Hong Kong's unique position as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" that thrives on global connection and creativity. We are delighted to see that world-class academics, industry experts and leading entrepreneurs from around the world gather here today to explore the future of AI and the opportunities it brings to us.
AI has become a core engine driving global technological and economic progress, and all economies recognise its strategic importance.Under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is also seizing this AI moment.With a focus on "strengthening infrastructure and promoting the application-oriented approach", Hong Kong is steadily advancing a series of AI initiatives.
In terms of R&D (research and development), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is working to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute within this year, which is a new engine for discovery, translation, and real-world impact.Through our AIR@InnoHK research cluster, we have funded the establishment of 16 R&D laboratories focusing on AI and robotics technologies.Notably, the "HKChat" AI chatbot developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center has already launched its public version.
Hong Kong's total computing power has now reached 5 000 PFLOPS, with the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre contributing 3 000 PFLOPS. This centre is a critical hub that supports Hong Kong's AI development, and its capacity will continue to expand to meet growing demand. The upcoming data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge in North District will further provide advanced computing power facilities, promoting the development of data and AI-related industries in Hong Kong.
And at the heart of all progress is talent. We recognise that people, not algorithms, will shape the future of AI. Our strategy is simple yet powerful: "Promote technology with talent, lead industries with technology, and attract talent with industries". To this end, we have included in the Talent List a number of professions in the I&T (innovation and technology) segment, including experienced AI Specialists, to facilitate global experts, like all of you here, in developing your careers in Hong Kong.
Looking ahead, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to foster strong collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors. The future of AI cannot be built by anyone or any place alone. It requires a global community that is awake, aware, and aligned.I am confident that this Summit will spark new ideas and inspire us to wake up more for high-quality AI development.
I wish the Summit great success. Thank you.
The 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit, Photo by Bastille Post
