Nixie Lam eyes cultural blooming under national plan

Editor's note: In the run-up to the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, China Daily interviewed Hong Kong residents, including expatriates living in the city, from various sectors and different backgrounds, about the close bond between the city and its motherland. This is the fourth piece of the series.

Nixie Lam, a Hong Kong member of the All-China Youth Federation and member of the United Nations Association of China, told China Daily that she's looking forward to a full blooming of the city's arts and cultural industry under the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). She hopes to see more arts and cultural exchanges between the city and the rest of the world, which could bring more opportunities to Hong Kong youngsters.

How do you see relations between Hong Kong and the country? What do you think of the significance of "one country, two systems" policy to Hong Kong? Can you elaborate on your views with your own experience?

Hong Kong is like a long-lost child who has been studying and living aboard for a long time. Uniting with the family is great and some culture differences are understandable.

The "one country, two systems" policy ensures that Hong Kong residents can both live and work the best way that we get used to, while we will still encounter some challenges as a family, as a team.

The international community has some misunderstandings on Hong Kong affairs, like the enactment of the National Security Law for Hong Kong. Going to the UN, participating in some sessions, and speaking for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and China was a proud moment for me as I could do something with my knowledge and ability for the country. Especially when I was in Geneva in March 2020, being in that setting not only enhanced my thoughts but further enhanced my mission as a young person of China.

As relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland get much closer, especially with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which area or industry will you keep an eye on, and why?

Culture! I know many people might focus on the technological or financial side, but in my view Hong Kong has been gaining a competitive edge as an international arts and cultural hub. The nation's 14th Five-Year Plan outlines the unique position for the city to become a cultural and arts exchange center between China and the rest of the world.

Hong Kong has all along been an East-meets-West hub for international arts and cultural exchanges. To promote cultural cooperation, Hong Kong signed a series of memoranda of understanding with 20 countries facilitating cultural exchange activities, such as staff exchanges, education, training, researching and business matching. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department also signed MOUs with world-renowned museums such as the British Museum and Italy's Uffizi Gallery to strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation.

What's your expectation of Hong Kong's further development, especially in the industry you are most attentive to?

Arts and culture are one of the key instruments for youngsters to express themselves. As an All-China Youth Federation member, we have been compiling key bridging programs, and policies to further enhance this exchange part are running smoothly. By not only having youngsters visiting the mainland, the All-China Youth Federation has recently improved our programs to ensure they can, through these internship and exchange programs, rediscover themselves and lay out a better road ahead. As an example, Hong Kong students now can go through our program to be interns at the Forbidden City in Beijing. I expect this type of exchange to blossom in a short time and energetic youngsters in the town can have new job opportunities around the culture industry.

The interview was edited by Kathy Zhang.