The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, hosted a dinner for the visiting Governor of Victoria, Ms Linda Dessau, at Government House this evening (November 12). The Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Design Centre, Professor Eric Yim, were also present.

     Welcoming the Governor's visit to Hong Kong to attend the 9th World Chinese Economic Summit tomorrow, Mrs Lam said she is very pleased to see her again after their encounters in 2015. Mrs Lam visited Australia in 2015 in the capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration and was extended warm hospitality by the Governor at the Government House in Victoria.  During the Governor's official visit to Hong Kong in the same year, Mrs Lam hosted a lunch for her at the official residence of the Chief Secretary for Administration, and visited PMQ with her.

     Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong and the State of Victoria have been keen to explore areas for collaboration in design since their last meeting. In particular, the Hong Kong Design Centre signed a memorandum of understanding with the State Government of Victoria in May this year, confirming that Melbourne, the capital of the State of Victoria, as the partner city in the Business of Design Week 2018 and signifying the first time that the flagship design event partners with a city in the southern hemisphere. The event will strengthen cooperation of the business and design sectors between Hong Kong and Melbourne, and promote the designs of Hong Kong and Melbourne.

     Noting that the State of Victoria will stage an exhibition in the Business of Design Week 2017 to be held next month as part of the preparation for the Business of Design Week 2018, she said she looked forward to the cooperation between Hong Kong and the State of Victoria and believed that it would promote the development of the design trade and other creative industries in the two places, expand the scope for development for youths and boost economic growth.

Ends/Sunday, November 12, 2017
Issued at HKT 22:21

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