Press Release No. 056- 03
14 February 2003
 RP, HONG KONG TO INTENSIFY CULTURAL COOPERATION

Hong Kong, February 14. -- Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople and Hong Kong SAR Secretary of Home Affairs Dr. Patrick Ho signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cultural Cooperation between the Philippines and Hong Kong SAR which provides the framework for intensified cooperation in the fields of culture, the arts and education.

“This is an excellent way of strengthening the bonds of fraternity and solidarity between the Philippines and Hong Kong”, Ople said in his remarks after the signing.  Secretary Ople considers the signing of this landmark agreement as one of the highlights of his official visit to Hong Kong. The Secretary said that he “…shall be looking forward to the enduring results of this Agreement…”.

During the signing ceremony, Secretary Ho fondly recalled the historical role of Hong Kong in the history of the Philippines citing Dr. Jose Rizal’s sojourn in Hong Kong as a practicing medical doctor.  He also cited the fact that the Philippine flag, which was first unfurled at Kawit, Cavite on the day the Filipinos declared independence on 12 June 1898, was sewn in Hong Kong. Secretary Ho also said that he looks forward to more cultural exchange activities and closer cooperation between the two Governments in the fields of culture, the arts and education.

As an offshoot of the MOU, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong and the HKSAR Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now working on the staging of the “Concert in the Park Goes to Piazza” at the Hong Kong Cultural Center in April this year. This musical program will feature Filipino performing artists residing in Hong Kong, which will also form part of the Hong Kong Easter Carnival Event.

Both the Philippine and Hong Kong Governments have undertaken to step up collaboration in the field of culture by organizing large-scale Arts and Culture festivals in Hong Kong and in the Philippines.

Both Governments also hope to expand exchanges of performing groups and art works as well as to intensify on-going academic exchanges. A proposal is now under consideration for the chief Curator of the Hong Kong Science Museum to visit Manila on invitation by the Philippine Science Centrum.  Other exchange activities being proposed include music exchange programs for visiting youth music groups from the Philippines.