Antonello De Riu argues that Italy is the ideal partner for HK in its future development of business and culture and it has also enjoyed a very long relationship with China

Of all Western countries, Italy has one of the longest histories of relations with China, dating as far back as the Roman Empire. Then, as now, Chinese products were in great demand. Marco Polo, a Venetian, and Matteo Ricci, the celebrated Jesuit advisor to the Emperor Wanli, were among the first Westerners to spend any considerable length of time in China.

Indeed, Italy has been involved with Hong Kong since it was founded. Italy's national hero, Giuseppe Garibaldi, was here in 1852. The first Italian consul-general in Hong Kong, my predecessor many times removed, was Domenico Musso, appointed more than 135 years ago in 1879. But Italy had formal representation here from as early as 1861, immediately after the unified country of Italy was founded.

However, Italy's presence in Hong Kong remained relatively modest until recently. Perhaps it was the handover which removed the special position of Britain; perhaps it was the adoption of the euro which tied Italy to a global currency; perhaps it was a new generation of Italians who grew up with wider horizons. But regardless of the reason, the Italian community in Hong Kong has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade and a half. Indeed, the several-thousand-strong Italian community here is the second largest in Asia and the one growing the fastest.

Somewhat in contrast to other countries with many corporate expats, the Italian community here has a large number of professionals and entrepreneurs who just upped stakes and moved. These latest residents reflect a tradition of Italian business that dates back to the Polos and beyond. It is not hard to find parallels between Hong Kong and the Italian city states of Florence, Venice and Genoa, which between them - eight to 10 centuries ago - pioneered international banking and finance, international trade and shipping, and the design and marketing of luxury goods for the international elite. These are all industries on which Hong Kong's current prosperity is based. Is it any wonder that Italians feel at home here?

The appreciation seems to be mutual. It turns out that the most common surname of new entrepreneurs in Italy is Hu, followed by Chen. And several Hong Kong people in particular have been active in Italian business and culture. Opera impresarios Warren Mok and Lo King-man have both received Italian government decorations for their services to Italian culture, as has Pansy Ho. Judy Yu and David Hong have recently received similar recognition for their contributions in commercial relations.

Italy and China are both simultaneously very ancient and entirely modern. This fusion of tradition and modernity was given a name in Italy - "la dolce vita". Modernity and attention to one's professional life are, as the increasingly post-modern Hong Kong has also come to realize, all very well, but a life restricted just to this is a poor one. Functional items can have style, furnishings can be beautiful, and food can provide enjoyment as well as nourishment. Simplicity with quality, the ability to perceive the beauty in small things, the role art and music play in enhancing our lives, are all understood and valued by both our cultures.

Hong Kong has already experienced an explosion in Italian restaurants, food and consumer goods; the patronage of the large Italian community helps keep the offerings authentic. But governments can sometimes do what individuals cannot. So the Italian consulate intends to provide an ongoing focus and vehicle for Hong Kong - Italian lifestyle cooperation through a new initiative we are calling "Bellissima Italia". This is a festival of performances, exhibitions and events which will take place each autumn.

The events will range from introductions to Italian wine to performances of Italian opera, dance, jazz, popular and traditional music. The opening event will be Giacomo Puccini's famous Italian opera Tosca in an Opera Hong Kong production. This exemplifies the sort of cross-cultural cooperation we feel is so valuable. Tosca will feature the Chinese-born soprano He Hui, who now lives in Italy and sings in leading opera houses worldwide. December will see Giuseppe Verdi's dramatic II Trovatore, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by Musica Viva. The Hong Kong government will join the Italian Chamber of Commerce at the closing event of "Bellissima Italia" - a gala and fashion show.

Hong Kong is of course the obvious place to establish this largest ongoing program of Italian cultural events in East Asia. The city's cosmopolitan nature and openness combined with its sophisticated ability to evaluate quality make it an ideal place from which to launch programs - especially cooperative Italian-Hong Kong initiatives - into the wider region.

Hong Kong is, as we all know, a city of business. But as Asia moves past this period of development, Hong Kong also has the opportunity to expand its role as a city of culture, in the widest sense, Italy, a country which has been developing and exporting culture longer than any other except for China itself, is the ideal partner for Hong Kong in this exciting new period of its development as a world city.

The author is the consul-general of the Republic of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao after completing a number of senior postings in various countries.

(HK Edition 10/16/2015 page12)