Experts: HK poised to enhance Chinese culture 'soft power'

A panel of heavyweights from the arts sector on Thursday said Hong Kong is poised to leverage its strengths under “one country, two systems” to build itself into an international hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

To achieve that ambition, as laid down in the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong needs to make full use of its great talents, flourishing local arts scene, multitude of newly-built facilities, mature infrastructure for art trading, and the creative industry, and help to enhance the soft power of Chinese culture as a place where East meets West, the panel said.

Held at the Greater Bay Area Conference, co-hosted by China Daily Hong Kong Edition and Hong Kong Coalition, the panel discussion was themed Strengthening Exchanges and Cooperation, Developing a Cultural Hub.

The conference, which featured three themed panel discussions, also marked the 25th anniversary of CDHK. The event, held both online and onsite, invited 14 leaders from various sectors to share their insights with the audience in Wan Chai on Thursday morning.

Speaking at the panel discussion, Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, said that what gives Hong Kong its uniqueness is the “one country, two systems” policy, which makes most of the West, and countries around the world, really trust the brand and trust Hong Kong.

The beautiful thing about Hong Kong is the freedom of artistic creation, which makes it the ideal place for the cultural exchanges and collaborations between East and West, said Zeman.

Echoing Zeman, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Hong Kong Jockey Club Raymond Tam said the arts and cultural sector is thrilled by the central government’s strong support for Hong Kong to develop as an arts and cultural exchanges hub between China and the rest of the world, as stated in the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan.

“We have great talents in Hong Kong, a flourishing local art scene, many newly-built facilities and more in the pipeline, and mature infrastructure for art trading and the creative industry,” Tam said.

“At the same time, we recognize the merits of collaborating with other cities in the Greater Bay Area, given our common cultural roots, so that we can complement each other in developing the GBA as a regional hub for arts and culture, and showcase the soft power of Chinese culture to the world,” he concluded.

The discussion was also attended by Tisa Ho, executive director of Hong Kong Arts Festival, Mathias Woo, co-artistic director and executive director of Zuni Icosahedron, and Alvin Yip,

adjunct professor at Central Academy of Fine Arts.