USCST Highlights Italy-Hong Kong Menswear Collaboration at "Future Threads" Opening

Speech by USCST at opening ceremony of "Future Threads: Menswear's New Waves Between Italy and Hong Kong"

Following is the speech by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, at the opening ceremony of the "Future Threads: Menswear's New Waves Between Italy and Hong Kong" today (September 2):

The Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, Photo source: reference image

Steve (Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), Mr Steve Leung), Carlo (President of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), Mr Carlo Capasa), Sara (International New Talents and Brands Ambassador of the CNMI, Ms Sara Sozzani Maino), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon, Buongiorno. My pleasure to be here at the opening of "Future Threads: Menswear's New Waves Between Italy and Hong Kong". "Future Threads" is the only event of this year's Hong Kong Fashion Fest dedicated to menswear, and I am especially pleased to be part of it today.

Menswear is one of fashion's fastest growing chapters. The global menswear market is now valued at close to US$470 billion, and in Asia Pacific alone, there is an expansion of more than six per cent a year.

Hong Kong is exceptionally well-positioned to help write this menswear chapter, and the exhibition today, which is the first strategic collaboration between the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the organiser of Milan Fashion Week, puts us right at the centre of this ever-growing market.

With the great effort of the Hong Kong Design Centre and the meticulous curation of Sara, the International New Talents and Brands Ambassador of the CNMI, this exhibition brings together ten outstanding emerging menswear designers from Hong Kong and Italy. Their collections stage a creative dialogue between two vibrant fashion capitals, offering us an exclusive preview of the Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collections. I'm delighted to be wearing one of the stylish designs today.

Our relationship with the CNMI has always been close. I am confident that this exhibition will further strengthen the ties between Hong Kong and Italy's fashion industries for the years to come, and reaffirm Hong Kong's role as a global platform where Eastern and Western aesthetics converge. I encourage all our guests to explore the exhibition and engage with the inspiring work on display.

May I once again thank the HKDC, the CNMI, Sara and all participating designers who have made this event possible, and offer my warmest congratulations to the HKDC and the CNMI on forging this strategic collaboration. I wish the exhibition every success. Thank you.

"Future Threads: Menswear's New Waves Between Italy and Hong Kong," Photo source: fashionasiahk.com

Seventh-term Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation convenes first meeting

The Government announced that starting from today (September 2), the existing "Commission on Poverty" will be renamed as the "Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation". The renaming aims to highlight the Government's strategic direction and firm commitment to advancing targeted poverty alleviation.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the first meeting of the new-term Commission today. He said that the current-term Government is committed to building a comprehensive poverty alleviation system. In addition to providing a safety net through inclusive social services encompassing housing, healthcare, education and social welfare, the Government upholds a people-oriented approach. By identifying specific groups under its targeted poverty alleviation strategy, the Government provides focused and effective support to those most in need.

Members noted that the last two terms of the Commission targeted subdivided unit households, single-parent households and all-elderly households. Taking into consideration the characteristics of these groups, the Commission identified their difficulties and pain points. Through tripartite collaboration of the Government, the business sector and the community, the Commission launched a series of targeted poverty alleviation measures tailored to these target groups. The new-term Commission supports that the targeted poverty alleviation strategy should be adjusted in response to changing societal needs, and will review and introduce a new target group in a timely manner so that more people requiring assistance can benefit.

Members also noted that the Government is proactively preparing to establish a social welfare project matching platform, aiming to roll out the first round of matching activities this year. This initiative will help institutionalise the tripartite collaborative model, bringing together the Government, the business sector and the community to support the vulnerable, while connecting business resources with community welfare projects to provide innovative and targeted services for those in need.

Members also took note of government officials' reports on the work of the Community Care Fund and the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, as well as the progress of various funded assistance programmes.

Seventh-term Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation convenes first meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seventh-term Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation convenes first meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seventh-term Commission on Targeted Poverty Alleviation convenes first meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases