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A Taste of Hong Kong with Design

Over the past two weeks, Hong Kong hosted a series of exciting cultural, creative and design events. It began with the inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Fest, which showcased local trends and Asian design excellence. It was followed by the Business of Design Week 2024, which brought together over 50 renowned creative industries leaders and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and beyond, along with hundreds of industry professionals, to exchange ideas and explore how design can drive innovation and business expansion. In addition, DesignInspire took place over the past three days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring more than 200 exhibitors from various countries and regions. This event offered members of the public a dazzling array of exhibits, performances and immersive experiences that highlighted the latest global trends.

DesignInspire is a flagship event for Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries. A highlight of this year’s event was its collaboration with the prestigious international design trade fair in France, Maison&Objet (M&O). The M&O Design Factory, spanning over 10,000 square feet, provided an immersive experience showcasing innovative concepts and trends in design, interior decoration and lifestyle from a global perspective.

A highlight of this year's DesignInspire was the debut of the world-renowned French design trade fair, Maison&Objet (M&O), in Hong Kong.
Works from global top brands and designers have facilitated dialogues between East and West, and between tradition and innovation.

This strategic partnership with an internationally renowned exhibition has opened new horizons. Works from top brands and designers from around the world served as the key for dialogues between East and West, and between tradition and innovation. Exhibits ranged from blue and white porcelain chandeliers co-designed by Hong Kong designers and French brands, to Chinese-style chairs made with new materials, and various home décor items crafted from natural or recycled materials. During my visit, I was deeply impressed by how these exhibits embodied inclusivity and cultural exchange. They have really enriched the essence of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Securing M&O’s debut at a large-scale exhibition in Hong Kong was the result of extensive preparation and effort. During my visit to Paris last year, I toured M&O's design concept store and extended an invitation for them to bring their exhibition to Hong Kong. Since then, the HKSAR Government and other members of the Hong Kong Team had actively followed up on this initiative. That included sending local designers to participate in M&O’s exhibition in Paris. In September this year, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with M&O. These efforts have laid a solid foundation for our collaboration in promoting the cultural and creative industries.

M&O’s debut in Hong Kong was the result of extensive preparation and effort. During my visit to Paris last year, I extended an invitation for M&O to bring their exhibition to Hong Kong.

M&O's exhibition area provided an immersive experience to members of the public. It showcased the latest concepts in design, interior decoration and lifestyle from a global perspective.
Overseas exhibitors showcased innovative methods for creating home décor items using natural or recycled materials.

Designers, brand owners, and entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries who participated in relevant large-scale international exhibitions and conferences in Hong Kong have commonly praised our exceptional ability in curating and organising high-quality events. Hong Kong is renowned not only for its open, inclusive culture that blends the best of East and West, but also for its extensive trade and transport network as well as the strong people-to-people connections that link the Mainland with international markets. By staging exhibitions in Hong Kong, they can conveniently connect with potential clients and partners from around the world, fostering collaboration and facilitating deal-making.

In recent years, I travelled to Europe, the United States, the Middle East and other regions to attract businesses and investments and tell the good stories of Hong Kong. During these trips, I took the opportunity to connect with the organisers of major events. From exhibitions in the cultural and creative industries to financial and tech conferences, we actively extended invitations for them to host their events in Hong Kong. One notable example is the Future Investment Initiative PRIORITY Asia Summit, which took place for the first time in Hong Kong in November last year. By organising events in our city, they can leverage Hong Kong as a springboard to access markets in the Mainland and Asia, reaching clients throughout the region. These events will also enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.

As an international financial, trade and shipping centre, Hong Kong thrives on vibrant business activities. For a long time, we have been a magnet for enterprises and talent from around the world. The city hosts numerous exhibitions, covering a wide range of professional themes, and provides an ideal platform for business connections and talent exchanges. The availability of quality creative content, along with the city’s rich and diverse cultural and creative industries, fosters understanding and interaction among people while facilitating the exchange of ideas. The combination of business platforms and creative content enhances Hong Kong’s reputation as a world city and amplifies its appeal to businesses and talent worldwide.

To maximise synergy, we will enhance the coordination of schedules for various major events. For instance, in March next year, we will host the annual Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, a flagship event for family offices. During that period, events such as Art Basel, ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market, the Hong Kong Sevens, and several other financial conferences and summits, will also take place. Together, these events will provide visitors with a vibrant and diverse experience, allowing them to see and feel for themselves the dynamism and vibrancy of Hong Kong.

December 8, 2024


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