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The Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) today (December 15) signed the Agreement on Enhancing Exchange and Co-operation in the Area of Cultural Heritage, enabling deeper and more extensive exchange between the two sides on the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
Representing the HKSAR Government, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, signed the agreement with the Director General of the SACH, Dr Shan Jixiang.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Tsang said that since its reunification with the Mainland, Hong Kong has all along been receiving firm support from the Central Government and the Mainland. From time to time, precious cultural artefacts have been lent to Hong Kong for display here, allowing Hong Kong people to have more opportunities to appreciate the charm and richness of the arts and culture of our motherland. The HKSAR Government is extremely thankful for the great support given to Hong Kong by the SACH.
Mr Tsang said, "The HKSAR Government has all along been supporting endeavours in the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage. Museums of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department always hold exhibitions to let people learn more about Mainland and local cultural heritage.
"According to the agreement signed today, we will take more active steps to bring in large-scale exhibitions from the Mainland. At the same time, we also hope that more Hong Kong exhibitions will be staged on the Mainland to strengthen mutual exchange."
In addition to exhibitions, Mr Tsang also looked forward to enhanced liaison and exchange between the professional personnel of the two sides in the area of training of professionals.
Mr Tsang said that one of the major features of the agreement is the setting up of a joint working group to give direction and co-ordinate exchange and co-operation in the area of cultural heritage. He said he firmly believed that, under the framework of today's agreement, we would be able to collaborate more closely with the SACH with a view to developing deeper and more extensive exchange and co-operation between the two sides on the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage, such that Hong Kong people would have more opportunities to appreciate the richness and profundity of our Chinese culture.
Ends/Thursday, December 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:50
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