Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to join you all for the premiere night of the Hong Kong Film Panorama 2008.

As many of you know, Hong Kong has a rich cinematic heritage. This is due in large part to the unique creative environment and contrasts we find in Hong Kong - East and West; ancient traditions and modern lifestyle; cutting-edge architecture and colonial heritage; a vertical metropolis framed by verdant hills; a bustling cityscape and serene countryside retreats.

In Hong Kong, we describe ourselves as Asia's world city; but, in fact, we are just as much a world in a city. People from all over the globe have made their homes in Hong Kong for more than a century. This mlange of ideas and cultures makes our city one of the most open, free and tolerant in the world. I like to think it also makes us one of the most creative.

Our movie industry has long been at the forefront of creative endeavour in Hong Kong. Some of our stars and directors have gained international recognition. And behind the scenes our artistes, composers and production houses have also excelled in music, animation and special effects on the global stage. And, while Hong Kong is the undisputed king of the kung fu genre, our movie-makers have also had great success with moody dramas, with gritty crime and police stories, with stories of love and betrayal, and with slapstick comedies that combine witty one-liners with action-packed stunts. Like Hong Kong, our movie industry is constantly changing and adjusting - not just to remain competitive, but also to reflect the evolving character of our beguiling city and the seven million people who make it tick.

We are fortunate that our movie industry has played such a prominent role in our society. It has laid the foundation for creative exploration in other performing areas such as music, dance and drama - all of which can and have been used to express the soul of our city.

Looking ahead, it is clear that creative industries in all their forms will play increasingly important roles for global cities in their drive to attract talent, and remain competitive. Ideas, innovation and creativity will become the currency of competitiveness in the years ahead - both in terms of driving economic activity as well as enriching the lives of people.

In Hong Kong, we are firming up our plans to establish a world-class cultural precinct on a 40-hectare greenfield site on the Kowloon waterfront. Performing venues will be part of the mix, as will museums, galleries and commercial enterprises. Our goal is to create a cultural and entertainment hub that will attract visitors from around the world, and become a focal point for creative expression in Hong Kong.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are all eager for the lights to dim, the cameras to roll, and the action to begin on screen. All that remains is to thank all of those involved in the Hong Kong Film Panorama, and for bringing a little slice of Hong Kong to audiences in Europe.

Thank you very much.