The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) held the Wan Chai Community Art Creation Workshop today during the Hong Kong Book Fair, engaging around 100 students from local primary and secondary schools to create drawings of Hong Kong landmarks and city scenes. These drawings will inspire a large-scale artwork by local artist Jane Lee, known as Messy Desk, commemorating the HKTDC’s 60th anniversary.
HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma and Executive Director Sophia Chong attended the event, admiring the students’ artistic depictions of Hong Kong’s economic and industrial strengths. “The Wan Chai Community Art Creation Workshop enables young people to draw a vibrant picture of Hong Kong through art. Every pen stroke vividly reflects their perspective on the city’s global role,” said Prof Ma. “The HKTDC has been based in Wan Chai for decades, helping link Hong Kong with global markets. Through this project we are fostering the growth of Wan Chai’s creative sector and the exchange of ideas, creating momentum for the future.”
Centring on the theme “Hong Kong Trade · Connecting the World,” Jane Lee set out to engage the community by integrating students’ ideas into the final artwork. Students from schools in Wan Chai participated through the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Methodist Centre, and St James’ Settlement. The artwork incorporates Hong Kong landmarks, scenes from exhibitions and conferences, and elements depicting the shipping and air freight sector, alongside community and business life. Its creative expressions convey Hong Kong’s “Four Centres and One Hub” positioning under the national 15th Five-Year Plan, highlighting the city’s role as an international financial, shipping, trading, and innovation and technology centre, as well as a global hub for high-calibre talent.
The workshop deepened the students’ understanding of HKTDC’s role and Hong Kong’s trade development. Their drawings will be compiled to inspire the final large-scale artwork, which will undergo refinement by the artist and be displayed from 2 to 29 October at the eastbound tram stop at O'Brien Road in Wan Chai. The artwork underscores Hong Kong’s strengths in connecting global markets and showcases the vitality of Wan Chai as a hub for international conventions, exhibitions, and business activities.
During the Hong Kong Book Fair, the HKTDC also facilitated free visits to the Book Fair, the Sports and Leisure Expo, and World of Snacks for participating students, enabling them to broaden their horizons through cultural activities. More information about HKTDC’s 60th anniversary celebrations is available at https://60.hktdc.com/en.
