On May 10, 2024, the signing ceremony for the cooperation framework agreement on the donation to the Palace Museum from the Institute of Philanthropy, whichwasco-founded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and the HKJC Charities Trust, and the inaugural ceremony of the Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub were held successfully in the museum.Wang Xudong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the Palace Museum, andMichael Lee, chairman of the HKJC, signed the agreement on behalf of both parties and delivered speeches at the event. Distinguished guestspresent at this event included Kevin Yeung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Xu Li, second-level inspector of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee; Kong Lun, deputy director of the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs); Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi, vice-chairperson of the board of directors ofthe Institute of Philanthropy and director of the HKJC; Li Xiaocheng, head of the Forbidden City Cultural Heritage Conservation Foundation; and Louis Ng, director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The event was presided over byLou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum.

Lou Wei, executive deputy director of the Palace Museum, presides over the event

Wang Xudong noted in hisspeech that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, in order to preserve traditional Chinese culture and thrive the spirits of the Chinese nation,the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core hasprioritized the protection and utilization of cultural heritage. The Palace Museumis steadfast in its commitment tothe historic mission of protecting, inheriting and carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture in anauthentic, complete and responsible manner. In recent years, the HKJC has been actively involved in various fields of public welfare and charitable causes in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. As an effort to actively implement the principal guidance and instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and put into practice the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the cooperation between the two sides reflects the HKJC’s endeavor for protecting and utilizing the cultural heritage, and manifests the new comprehensive opening-up concept of the Palace Museum that aims to open the museum’s cultural resources, connecting with all walks of life and carrying out extensive cultural exchanges.  

Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, delivers a speech

Michael Lee highlighted that the HKJC supports the Palace Museumin the“Chinese Culture Spreading and Cultural Technology Talent Cultivation” program (hereinafter referred to the Program), making use of the precious resources of the museum, integrating art with technology, organizing a number of cultural exchange exhibitions, talent cultivation and education programs, and enabling people in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, especially the younger generation, to have a deep understanding of Chinese history and culture.

Michael Lee, chairman of the HKJC, delivers aspeech

Wang Xudong andMichael Lee signed the agreement on behalf of both parties. According to this agreement, the Institute of Philanthropy will donate 371 million yuanin sponsorship funds for the Program from 2024 to 2028. The Programinvolves the renovation of ancient buildings, organization of exhibitions, cultivation of talent, archaeological studies and public education, of which a major part is the renovation of the Palace of Celestial Favor (Chengqian Gong), one of the six palaces locatedin the eastern wing of the inner court of the Forbidden City. Moreover, the Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub has beenestablished to organize thematic exhibitions on traditional culture and present the cultural exchange achievements of young art-related technology personnel between Hong Kongand the Chinese mainland. The signing of this agreementsignified the launch of the Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub.

Under the cooperation framework agreement, the Palace Museum and the HKJC will work closely together and strengthen communication, with an aim to jointly promote the successful implementation of the Program.

This event was attended by officials from the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing, representatives from the HKJC, the Institute of Philanthropy, and the (Hong Kong) China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, and officials of the Palace Museum and its departments.