Time has passed by in the blink of an eye and ‘Hong Kong Week’ is already stepping into its 5th anniversary this year. Over time, our efforts have received enthusiastic support from the Taiwan arts community as well as audiences, while direct exchanges on multiple fronts have also gained momentum. Our achievement thus far has been tremendously encouraging for us.

The programme line-up for this year’s ‘Hong Kong Week’ focuses particularly on a group of talents-in-bloom who will be showing audiences the diversity, uniqueness, and innovation of Hong Kong’s arts scene and creative industries under the leadership of masters and veterans which further embraces the spirit of cultural legacy and passing our cultural inheritance to the next generation.

The Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association has invited over 60 established and emerging designers from Hong Kong and Taiwan to participate in the UNZIP Creativity Hong Kong Fashion in Taipei 2016. The charm of fashion design will be presented through splendid garments featured in an exhibition and parade themed after the zipper. Cantonese Opera legend, Yuen Siu-fai, will lead the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, a group formed by young Hong Kong musicians, to perform in the concerts of Voices of Cantonese Narrative Music and Hong Kong Nostalgia where two Hong Kong local music genres, Nanyin and Cantonese music, will be presented to Taiwan audience. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and local star pianist Colleen Lee will make their débuts in Taiwan under the baton of renowned conductor Yip Wing-sie in the Ethereal Is the Moon concert, which is set to bring fans an unprecedented listening experience. Unlock Dancing Plaza has especially reunited the original cast of Boy Story, a critically acclaimed dance piece which premièred 20 years ago, for an encore of the work, as well as the unveiling of its reinvention, Boy Story Reborn, featuring dancers of the next generation.

Our rising stars will also take command of the stage on their own. Hong Kong’s first professional a cappella choral theatre company, Yat Po Singers, will bring the bold and innovative Our Immortal Cantata, a music theatre production which deconstructs a number of touching classic romantic tragedies through humour. The Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe, a group dedicated to preserving tradition while promoting the reform of Cantonese Opera, will join hands with GuoGuang Opera Company in a crossover between Cantonese, Peking and Kunqu operas. Watch out for their artistic prowess as we eagerly anticipate the sparks that will fly when the unique perspectives and ideas of the new generation collide with traditional arts. There will also be an exhibition on built heritage which showcases different types of historic buildings in Hong Kong and explores their relationship with society and people’s livelihoods.

‘Hong Kong Week’ has shouldered the responsibility in facilitating cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Taiwan since its inception. We are fortunate to gain the support and participation of Taiwan artists and groups every year and together we bring out the best of our respective cultures. This year, we are honoured to have the company of elites such as contemporary dancer Chou Shu-yi, renowned erhu player Wang Ying-chieh, GuoGuang Opera Company, as well as the TCO Academy Orchestra. My special gratitude is also extended to The Xiqu Center of Taiwan and Cloud Gate Theater for enabling this year’s programmes to take place at Taiwan’s new performing arts landmarks.

Each new endeavour we make through ‘Hong Kong Week’ carries our mission in the furtherance of cultural and artistic exchanges between the two regions. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy this year’s offerings and continue to give your support to ‘Hong Kong Week’, as well as the blossoming talents of our local arts scene.

Convenor of Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Committee

Fredric Mao Chun-fai