(From left) Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of History Ng Chi-wo; Under Secretary for Education Jeff Sze Chun-fai; Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Raistlin Lau Chun; and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu Ming-kwong pose for photos during a kick-off ceremony for the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, in Hong Kong, March 14, 2024. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
A newly established government office will organize a series of events showcasing Chinese culture and history throughout the year, including an annual Chinese Culture Festival and an exhibition on ancient China’s earliest dynasties.
At the launch ceremony on Thursday, the Chinese Culture Promotion Office announced a goal of attracting 700,000 participants annually through a diverse range of events.
The new agency, which is under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, was initiated by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his 2023 Policy Address. It will begin work in April, with its cultural activities overseen by Ng Chi-wo, director of the Hong Kong Museum of History.
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Ng revealed that the planned events will be categorized into five areas — Chinese history, exhibitions, teaching and learning activities, community activities, and teaching resources.
The first scheduled event is an exhibition in April focusing on the ancient central plain cultures, including the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (c.21st century-256 BC). The Chinese Cultural Festival, featuring over 100 shows performed by artists from various Chinese regions, will be held in June at the earliest.
The office is also developing a large-scale exhibition on the country’s development and achievements, as well as about 50 promotional activities.
It will provide training for teachers, encouraging them to use museum resources to introduce Chinese history and culture from a cross-disciplinary perspective.
Educators will also have the opportunity to join study visits to the Chinese mainland, experience Chinese culture and history firsthand and share the experiences with students. One such trip to central China’s Henan province, home to many heritage sites and cultural landmarks, is scheduled for June.
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As outlined in the policy address, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence will be converted into the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, promoting knowledge and understanding of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Ng said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Raistlin Lau Chun said the office will also set up dedicated websites and social media accounts, and arrange live webcasting about selected talks and activities related to Chinese culture.
Lau said he expected the office to play an important role in promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education through multifaceted activities.
Under Secretary for Education Jeff Sze Chun-fai said the Education Bureau will partner with the office to jointly promote education in Chinese culture and history.
