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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening ceremony of the new campus of the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and the Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) (Lee Wai Lee) today (November 25):
Mr Leung, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you all for the opening of these new campuses.
My warmest congratulations to the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) on this very ambitious project.
In design, it is often said that first impressions count.
So allow me to share with you some of my first impressions of this project. They are very positive.
It is appropriate that this award-winning architectural design will help to inspire our future award-winning designers. It also reflects the Government's full commitment to promoting creative industries in Hong Kong.
Another first impression is the amount of space there is. Plenty of room for students from both institutes to share their ideas, explore their creative limits and expand their horizons.
A third impression is the synergizing effect of this project. Relocating the IVE campus next to the new facilities of the Design Institute is a win-win situation. It will give more students more access to more materials and knowledge that will help them fulfill their creative potential.
Overall, this project provides the inspiration, the space and the materials to nurture our next generation of designers.
Also, the timing of this opening could hardly be better. It comes at a time when the Government is working hard to develop the creative and cultural industries as one of the priority areas for Hong KongĄ¯s future economic growth. It marks the enhanced services the Vocational Training Council has to offer in training our young creative talent.
Since 1979, the IVE has been providing educational and training services tailored to the changing manpower needs of our rapidly evolving economy.
This project is a great example of its ability to continue moving with the times, to enhance its facilities and services to meet the increasing demand for design courses.
The Design Institute has also made a significant contribution since its establishment in 2007. Indeed, designers from both Institutes have won a number of international awards, highlighting the abilities and potential of our creative talent and the standards they have achieved at a global level.
I encourage our design students to take full advantage of these new facilities.
Once again, congratulations to the Institute of Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee) and the Hong Kong Design Institute on the opening of their new campuses.
Because first impressions really count, I am confident this project will prove to be an enormous success.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, November 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:05
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