Press Releases – Greater Bay Area Built Heritage Summit 2022 opens

Jointly organised by the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office (CHO) and the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) under the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Built Heritage Summit 2022 (the Summit) opened at Hong Kong City Hall today (November 9). Around 30 officials, experts, scholars and business leaders will share their experiences and innovative ideas on four aspects, namely “New Development in Built Heritage Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings”, “Knowledge Sharing and Public Engagement – New Strategies in Built Heritage Education”, “Application of New Technologies in Built Heritage Conservation and Education” and “Cross-Boundary Collaborations”.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to heritage conservation and has adopted a multi-pronged approach to conserve valuable built heritage. The archaeological discoveries and built heritage in Hong Kong show the historical, traditional and cultural connection between Hong Kong and the GBA. Together they constitute an inseparable part of the Lingnan culture. Hong Kong organised the Summit to highlight the unique cultural charm of the GBA through cultural relics and world heritage, and to promote exchanges and co-operation in heritage building conservation in the GBA. The Summit explores the direction to strengthen further collaboration in the latest development of built heritage conservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, related education programmes and application of new technologies, as well as cross-boundary collaborations.

Deputy Administrator of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) Mr Lu Jin, on behalf of the Administrator of the NCHA, Mr Li Qun, warmly congratulated the successful launch of the Summit and thanked the HKSAR Government, the DEVB and its CHO and AMO for their efforts in organising the Summit. He said that the Summit integrates heritage conservation with the development of the GBA. Through sharing of experiences and innovative ideas, the GBA could preserve and utilise well the invaluable cultural heritage of Chinese civilisation, and inherit and promote its long history of civilisation and fine traditions, so as to let Chinese civilisation interact with global civilisations and radiate the splendour of the new era.

The DEVB, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Exchange and Collaboration on Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Amongst the Greater Bay Area at the opening ceremony. Based on the principles of resource sharing, complementary and mutual benefits to gain the win-win deal, the three parties will further strengthen the collaborations on archaeological and cultural heritage in the GBA, including research, preservation, education, promotion, community participation, and cultural products development.

The two-day (November 9 and 10) Summit is supported by the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation, and is exclusively sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). It is one of the many initiatives supported by the HKJC’s approved donation of $630 million to the Government of the HKSAR to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, demonstrating that the HKJC is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society, all in support of creating a stronger community together.

To tie in with the Summit, the CHO and AMO jointly presented the exhibition “In Virtual of Heritage – Exploring Monuments with Heritage Technology” at the Exhibition Hall, Lower Block, Hong Kong City Hall, which will vividly show 25 unique historic buildings in Hong Kong via innovation technology. Visitors can appreciate the superb craftsmanship and structures of the historic buildings by virtual reality devices and models. The exhibition will run from November 11 to 22. Admission is free. For details about the exhibition, please visit the website of the AMO: www.amo.gov.hk/en/hong-kong-built-heritage-exhibition/.

Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:20