Top officials help kick off art show

By Zhuan Ti (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-13 07:42

The opening ceremony of the Chinese Quintessence Oil Paintings Exhibition was held in Hong Kong on Feb 11 as top-level government officials and other distinguished guests looked on.

Sponsored by the All China Taiwanese Association and the Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong) Ltd Co, the exhibition was kicked off in the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre.

It was the second show following its November debut at the National Theatre in Beijing, which attracted many visitors from China and abroad.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and former chief executive of Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR), sent a congratulatory message to the event's participants, saying Chinese culture is an important mental ligament to link Chinese people on the mainland, in Taiwan province, Hong Kong special administrative region and those overseas.

The exhibition is expected to promote cultural exchanges between the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, enhance national spirit and make a contribution to the revival of Chinese culture, he pointed out in the message.

Some 200 government officials, distinguished guests and professionals were invited to participate in the opening ceremony.

Many senior government officials were on hand and they raised the profile of the exhibition.

They included director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR Gao Siren, vice director of the office Li Guikang, vice chairman of the Overseas Chinese Committee of the National People's Congress and chairman of the All China Taiwanese Association Liang Guoyang, vice director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and former secretary of the Department of Justice in Hong Kong Leung Oi-sie, and secretary for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau in Hong Kong Lam Sui-lung.

Liang of the All China Taiwanese Association said as a metropolis, Hong Kong plays a pivotal role in bridging China as well as the world and is also an important venue to boost cultural exchanges between the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The chairman also noted that the association will launch more activities in this area.

Liu Linghua, the artist whose oil paintings are prominently featured in the exhibition, is enjoying a growing reputation in China. His works have been shown in the China Gallery, at the APEC meeting in Shanghai, and at some exhibitions in Tokyo and Paris.

During the opening ceremony, Liang, representing the association, donated the "Drunken Beauty" painting to Hong Kong SAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR.