The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, arrived in Vienna in Austria yesterday afternoon (May 9, Vienna time). He first called on the Executive City Councillor for Cultural Affairs, Science and Sports of Vienna, Dr Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, to exchange views.
      
     The Home Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation in 2015. Since then, Hong Kong and Austria have been strengthening the cultural co-operation between the two places, for example in the annual Hong Kong - Vienna Music Festival organised by the Vienna Boys Choir Music Academy Foundation. Hong Kong has also been chosen by the Vienna Boys Choir Music Academy as its first overseas location to set up a music academy in its more than 500 years of history. 
      
     In Vienna, Mr Lau also met with the Chief of Staff of the Federal Minister for Arts and Culture, Constitution and Media of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, Mr Michael Rendi, to explore opportunities for co-operation and exchanges on arts and culture. In addition, he dined with members of the Hong Kong community living in Vienna.
      
     Today (May 10, Vienna time), after paying a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Austria, Mr Li Xiaosi, and visiting cultural facilities including museums, Mr Lau will proceed to Venice in Italy. While in Venice, he will officiate at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and attend a gala dinner jointly presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the M+ museum of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. He will also visit pavilions of different countries and regions and other cultural facilities, and meet with the Minister of Culture of the Veneto Regional Government, Mr Cristiano Corazzari, to identify co-operation opportunities.

Ends/Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 13:41

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