The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), opened today (June 13) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), launching over 280 events to be held from June to September.

     In a video speech addressing the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the Government will fully leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle to promote outstanding traditional Chinese culture globally and ride on Hong Kong's international network in telling good stories of China to the world. Mr Lee pointed out that an important strategic direction featured in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, published by the Government last year, is on the promotion of the profound traditional Chinese culture. He is confident that the Chinese Culture Festival will become an annual signature cultural event in Hong Kong, presenting the rich and vibrant Chinese culture to audiences through innovative approaches. He said that the Government will continue to promote the essence of Chinese culture to citizens of Hong Kong and visitors from overseas and the Mainland, with a view to achieving "shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism" and fostering the integration and mutual reinforcement of culture and tourism.

     Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Wang Songmiao; the Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Mr Li Shuguang; the Chairperson of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee and Legislative Council Member, Dr Starry Lee; the Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, Mr Ma Fung-kwok; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan. 

     The opening programme of this year's CCF staged tonight is a contemporary dance performance "Dongpo: Life in Poems", which is sponsored by the Agricultural Bank of China Limited Hong Kong Branch and performed by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group. Directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer and visual artist Shen Wei, the production is inspired by the poetry and life of Su Dongpo, a literary master in the Song dynasty. It revolves 12 of Su's poems that epitomise the poet's life philosophy, while reinterpreting Su's multifaceted legacy through contemporary dance. The production deeply integrates various fine traditional Chinese culture elements, such as poetry writing, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, guqin, Chinese opera and martial arts. By merging "cognitive essence" and "aesthetic realm", this approach is designed to transcend linguistic barriers, allowing audiences to explore Su's spiritual world through a contemporary lens. The audience gave rounds of warm applause for the splendid performance by main cast performers Su Peng and Liu Jie, outstanding young dancers from the China Oriental Song and Dance Troupe and the Meishan Song and Dance Theatre, as well as for guqin virtuoso and Professor of the Central Conservatory of Music Zhao Xiaoxia.

     The programme also featured an open rehearsal under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series" this afternoon at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC. Close to 400 primary and secondary school students and teachers as well as members of the community were invited to attend, free of charge. This session enabled them to appreciate the humanistic emotions conveyed in Su's poetry and embark on an artistic journey where "poetry embodies dance and dance incorporates poetry" in appreciating the beauty of traditional Chinese culture.

     The thematic exhibition on "Dongpo: Life in Poems" is currently being held at the Foyer of the HKCC. Apart from introducing the concept and structure of the production, the exhibition also presents Shen's research notes and design sketches created during the creative process through photographs. Three paintings by Shen that were displayed on stage during the performance are featured in the exhibition. The exhibition will run until tomorrow (June 14). Admission is free and members of the public are welcome to visit.  

     The CCF aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

        

     The "Genesis and Spirit – Treasures of Nature · Extraordinary Hakka: Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition of Jiangxi" presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will be held from tomorrow (June 14) to July 1 at the Exhibition Gallery, G/F of the Hong Kong Central Library. As one of the programme highlights of Hong Kong ICH Month 2025, the exhibition showcases nearly 40 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items from Jiangxi Province, including three items inscribed onto the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Representative List of the ICH of Humanity, and 10 representative items of the national ICH. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to enjoy the unique ICH culture of Jiangxi.
 
     Addressing the opening ceremony today (June 13), the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, said that the "Genesis and Spirit" exhibition and demonstration series has reached its ninth edition and has consistently been a key collaboration project for the preservation of ICH in the country and Hong Kong. Jiangxi Province and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have close ties in terms of geographical proximity and social interactions with deep historical connections and shared a cultural foundation. The Hakka community is characterised by its simplicity and warmth, drawing from nature to nurture world ICH such as Gannan Hakka Pounded Tea Making Technique. Through exploration of nature and dedicated craftsmanship, they also inherited national ICH such as Gannan Hakka Clothes. This exhibition provides a chance for Hong Kong people to understand and experience Jiangxi's Hakka culture and traditional craftsmanship, and resonate with the shared heritage and common roots of Jiangxi and Hong Kong.
 
     Other officiating guests included the Director of the Asia Tourism Exchange Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Zhang Dong; the Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Shuguang; member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Mayor of the Ganzhou Municipal People's Government, Jiangxi, Mr Zou Zhiyu; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the Chairperson of the ICH Advisory Committee, Professor Ricardo Mak; member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media and Tourism, Jiangxi, Ms Xia Hanhan; the Deputy Director of the Xiangdong Culture, Media and Tourism Bureau of the Pingxiang Municipality, Mr Chen Shugang; and the Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO), Ms Judith Ng.
 
     The exhibition is divided into four sections, including "Elegance of Hakka Culture", introducing traditional techniques integrated into Hakka everyday lives; "Heavenly Creations", displaying crafts with unique artistic styles; "Fragrant Tea of Jiangxi", which showcases traditional Chinese tea making techniques inscribed onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the ICH of Humanity; as well as "Scent of Calligraphy and Ink", with traditional skills of making "The Four Treasures of the Study".
 
     Visitors can also appreciate three world ICH items in Jiangxi at a glance, namely Wuyuan Green Tea Making Technique, Ning Black Tea Making Technique and Gannan Hakka Pounded Tea Making Technique, as well as 10 representative items of the national ICH, including Shicheng Lantern Festival, Gannan Hakka Clothes, Pingxiang Xiangdong Nuo Masks, Jingdezhen Porcelain Making Technique, Ruichang Bamboo Weaving, Ramie Embroidery, Jialu Paper Umbrella Making Technique, Yanshan Liansi Paper Making Technique, Wengang Chinese Brush Making Technique and Shicheng Inkstone Making Technique.
 
     Over 100 sessions of performances, demonstrations, talks and interactive experiential activities during the exhibition period will be organised. Nearly 70 representative bearers of ICH and performers from Jiangxi, including Representative Bearers of the National ICH, National Class One Performer and renowned art groups will give demonstrations of various craftsmanship on-site. Members of the public can also participate in experiential activities including Longnan Hakka Patterned Band Weaving Technique, Gannan Hakka Paper Cutting, Hakka Bamboo Carving Technique in Zhanggong District.
 
     It is also the first time that the exhibition will extend beyond the exhibition venue to the community and schools through mobile displays and experiential activities, to enable the public and students to experience the profound Hakka culture in depth.
 
     The exhibition is supported by the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, organised by the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, curated by the Ganzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media and Tourism, the Pingxiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media and Tourism and the ICHO.
 
     This exhibition is one of the programmes of Hong Kong ICH Month 2025, Chinese Culture Festival 2025 and the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. For more details, please visit the ICHO's website at www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/genesis_and_spirit_2025.html.

                  

     â€‹Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Opening Ceremony of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025 today (June 13):
      
     I would now like to turn to our English-speaking friends.
      
     Welcome to the opening reception of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025.
      
     Launched last year by the Government, the Chinese Culture Festival aims to showcase the remarkable virtues of traditional Chinese culture to the world. In 2024, we successfully presented over 250 performances and activities, attracting a substantial attendance of 900 000. 
      
     This year, the second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival will present more than 280 programmes and activities. To kick-start the Festival, this evening we are presenting a contemporary dance drama to you. Titled "Dongpo: Life in Poems", this performance is brought to you by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, and uses a variety of innovative means to present Chinese poetry, calligraphy, painting and music.
      
     Other Festival programmes include Chinese operas, local performances as recognised by the China National Arts Fund, as well as specially curated programmes co-organised with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association and arts and cultural organisations.
      
     Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. We will make full use of Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange to promote the beauty of Chinese culture.
      
     An important strategic direction featured in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, published by the Government last year, is on the promotion of the profound traditional Chinese culture. I am confident that the Chinese Culture Festival will become a new major annual cultural event in Hong Kong, attracting not only local residents but also Mainland and overseas tourists with its vibrant programme.
      
     I wish the Festival a resounding success, and all of you an enjoyable evening. Thank you.

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Civil Service College (CSC) jointly held the second Innovation and Technology leadership series thematic seminar on the topic "Hong Kong locally developed generative AI model technology and application" today (June 13). The seminar was delivered by the Provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Director of the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI), Professor Guo Yike. About 180 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks from various bureaux/departments (B/Ds) attended the seminar today.

     Professor Guo introduced the local large language model "HKGAI V1" developed by the HKGAI and its applications to participating government personnel during the seminar. Among the applications, the document processing copilot application "HKPilot" is currently in trial use in various government B/Ds to assist in handling document processing work, such as drafting, translation and producing summaries of documents. He also shared in detail various AI application scenarios for improving the efficiency of public services.

     At the seminar, the Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, shared the Government's latest initiatives in promoting AI, including the establishment of the AI Supercomputing Centre in Cyberport in December last year to support the local AI development with strong computing power. In addition, to promote the wider application of AI in government departments, the DPO will launch the "AI + Civil Services" initiative to drive the broader use of AI technology in various government departments.

     As one of the strategies to accelerate the development of digital government and lead public service innovation, the DPO and the CSC collaborate to regularly organise thematic seminars and training to enhance the core skills of senior management of B/Ds in using digital technology, thereby promoting more effective use of digital technology by B/Ds to drive digital transformation.

        

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam, and representatives of participating corporates today (June 13) officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the HYAB Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland and Overseas 2025.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Scheme has been well received by the youth and highly recognised by the participating corporates since its launch in 2018, and has benefited over 1 000 Hong Kong youth so far. The Scheme is dedicated to bringing Hong Kong youth to "go global". Through participating in summer internships, young people can accumulate work experience, broaden their horizons, gain a better understanding of the country and explore the world, and expand their interpersonal networks, which will help them in planning their future development.
 
     Mr Chan expressed his sincere gratitude to the participating corporates for providing quality internship placements as well as comprehensive training and support to enable the smooth implementation of the Scheme. He highlighted that the Government will continue to rally the efforts of all sectors in society to nurture young people, supporting them to thrive and contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong in future.
 
     A total of 28 corporates are participating in the Scheme this year (refer to the Annex for the list of participating corporates). They provide internship placements covering multiple industries, including financial services, innovation and technology, logistics, property development, construction, retail, hospitality, entertainment and public utilities, spanning different Mainland provinces and cities and overseas countries, including Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Mongolia and Australia. The recruited interns will depart from June onwards to undertake internship placements of no less than four weeks.