GuWei Museum First Anniversary and Library Lounge Opening

H.E. Ambrosetti delivered the opening address. As the year 2025 commemorates the 55^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, Ambassador Ambrosetti stated that “Institutions like the GuWei Museum and its tireless promotion of East-meets-West Culture, testify how culture lies at the heart of the friendship between our countries, reflecting both the strength of our bilateral ties and our shared commitment to deepening mutual understanding through dynamic cultural exchange.”

Prof. Lee Chack Fan endorsed the Museum and its collections as an ideal place for younger generation as well as visitors to appreciate the important concepts and mandates of cultural interaction and integration between the East and West. He said: “The GuWei Museum is a most welcome and a very timely addition to the museum landscape of Hong Kong. It focuses sharply on the cultural interaction and integration between the East and West. It thus fits perfectly into the mandate of Hong Kong as a meeting point of the East and West, and a cross-road of civilizations. As well, it clearly ties in with the Belt and Road Initiative.”

Co-founder Mr. Cutrupia shared the operation results of the first year. The Museum was able to attract 12,000 visitors, organising 4 thematic exhibitions, 8 workshops in connection with the exhibitions, more than 30 school and more than 30 social organisation visits, regular cultural classes for children aged 2-12 years old, thus becoming part of the Hong Kong cultural tapestry and particularly of the Southern District.

Mr Cutrupia further shared the refined and strong vision on education together with the commitment to enrich the visitor experience in Hong Kong, including Great Bay Area study and leisure trips, as well as the MICE market segment，and closed by thanking the many people who supported and encouraged the museum in first year.

Distinguished representatives from the foreign consulates (Dr. Pál Kértész, Consul General of Hungary in Hong Kong and Doyen of Consuls-General and Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong); government departments (Ms. Joanne Chu, JPS, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism; Ms. Eve Tam, Deputy Director of Leisure & Cultural Service (Culture)); museum and education institutions (Dr. Maria Mok, Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Dr. Florian Knothe, Director of the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Amelia NY Lee, Associate Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Hong Kong Baptist University); former civil officials (Ms. Au King-chi, GBS, JP) graced the event. 

We specially presented the rare edition of “An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China.” The book documents the historic 1792-93 Macartney Embassy to China, marking the dawn of a new chapter in modern Sino-European relations.