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| No.7 October, 2009 |
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Chief Secretary Henry Tang visits culture venues in Melbourne |
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 The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, visited a number of Melbourne's iconic arts and culture venues and met local officials to learn more about the city's vibrant cultural precinct.
Mr Tang's Melbourne visit on October 28 marked the second leg of his two-day visit to Australia. Accompanied by the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Sydney, Ms Lorna Wong, Mr Tang visited Federation Square in central Melbourne. |
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The cultural precinct incorporates the Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI), the National Gallery of Victoria's Gallery of Australian Art, the Plaza, television studios, cafes and restaurants.
Mr Tang met the Chief Executive Officer of the Federation Square Pty Ltd, Ms Kate Brennan; President of the Board of ACMI, Mr John Thwaites; ACMI CEO, Mr Tony Sweeney; and the Acting Director of National Gallery of Victoria, Ms Frances Lindsay.
 Mr Tang learnt that since the opening of the Federation Square in 2002, it had become one of Victoria's most visited attractions with more than eight million visits in 2007-08.
It is also used as an extension venue for global events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, allowing local audiences to participate and watch these events on giant screens.
The square - which emerged from an international design competition in 1997 - wins design awards in Australia and worldwide. Today it continues to attract substantial international media attention.
Mr Tang visited ACMI, which allows audiences to engage with the moving image in all its forms - film, television and digital culture - through exhibitions, films, festivals, live events and creative workshops.
In November, 2008, the venue hosted the "Focus on Johnnie To" film festival, featuring the renowned director's 12 masterpieces, as a joint project between the ACMI and HKETO.
Mr Tang also met the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser and the Premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby, at Government House. During the meeting, Mr Tang updated them on Hong Kong's latest developments and introduced them to the progress of the West Kowloon Cultural District project. Mr Tang then visited the Melbourne Recital Centre and met Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jacques de Vos Malan.
The award-winning Recital Centre - which opened in February this year - features a two-level recital hall with seating capacity of 1,000 people.
Mr Tang concluded his visit with discussion with the Acting Director of Arts Victoria, Mr Greg Andrews, about the promotion of arts and culture. Arts Victoria is the State Government body established in 1972 to advise on, and implement arts policy.
Commenting on the visit, Mr Tang said it was a very useful and successful trip. Apart from gaining insights into the operation and management of the state-of-the-art cultural venues there, the visit has also provided a good opportunity to exchange views with the venue operators as well as the Victorian State Government on ways to create a lively and dynamic arts and culture scene. The experience in Melbourne has provided useful reference for Hong Kong in developing cultural infrastructure and the supporting software. |
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