Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs, joined hands with Dr. Paul Kan, Chair of Champion Technology Group and Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation, renowned collector of Chinese art, to officiate at the opening ceremony of “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts” exhibition, tracing an analogy between life and agarwood, and promoting peace and harmony.

The exhibition “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts”, jointly presented by Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (the LCSD), and sponsored by Champion Technology, Kantone, Digital Hong Kong, A Better Tomorrow, Chinese Literature Foundation and World Cultural Relics Protection Foundation, will be held at Hong Kong City Hall Low Block Exhibition Hall from 13^th to 30^th October 2011. As a programme of the World Cultures Festival 2011 presented by the LCSD, the exhibition also echoes the theme of “Enchanting Arts of Asia”. A sensational opening ceremony was held today where Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs, joined hands with Dr. Paul Kan, Chair of Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation, to officiate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Consuls-general, representatives of museums, members of art and culture community, and many honourable guests were invited to witness the beauty of gratitude, and to share the permanent peace and harmony.

Taking “aloes” as the theme, the Exhibition showcases for the first time the rare and invaluable exhibits from the private collection of Dr. Paul Kan, connoisseur and chair of Champion Technology Group, which includes the statues of the scented wood in faiths via plentiful “aloes of Sacred Scripture and related artifacts” such as Buddhist statues, incense utensils and incense oils. Both the giant Sakyamuni statue and the world's largest pair of “Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara” in aloe are on display. There are also a range of classical fragrances and perfume bottles in the exhibition, alongside various priceless items of incense and spices. Visitors will recapture the historic scene with the display of the lifelike statues depicting the visit of the three wise men carrying the valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, to the stable on the birth of Jesus.

The opening ceremony commenced with a welcoming speech by Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, GBS, JP, followed by Dr. Kan's inspiring address. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were invited to join a guided tour led by Dr. Kan for more in-depth understanding of the history, message and meaning of the exhibits.

Dr. Kan thanked all the guests who have come to share this special moment of gratitude. “I am deeply honoured that the ‘Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour, with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts' exhibition has been listed as a highlight of the World Cultures Festival 2011 – Enchanting Arts of Asia.” Dr. Kan would like to spread the motifs “Gratitude, Sharing and Permanency” by staging this exhibition, thereby examining the beauty of the timeless treasure with all. “The relationship between agarwood and the history of Hong Kong is intertwined. In the early days, Aquilaria sinensis trees were planted in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was actually an important port for incense trading as well. It is with its production and trading of agarwood that Hong Kong has obtained its name and has played an important role in global cultural exchange.” Taking the opportunity, Dr. Kan made a bold suggestion to the Government to plant more agarwood trees around Hong Kong to sustain the pride of Hong Kong in history. “This will bring us incredible benefits in multiple respect, be it social, economic, physical, cultural or spiritual, as well as in promoting Peace and Harmony,” remarked Dr. Kan. It is envisaged that all would enjoy this aromatic peace and harmony with the same gratitude, sharing and permanency, and be inspired by the true essence of wisdom, peace and harmony. Dr. Kan also wished every one long life, good health, bliss, peace and harmony.

A 300-page Commemorative Journal, “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour: A Collection of 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts”, has been published to mark the launch of the Exhibition. Featuring impressive images and detailed explanations of the exhibits, it also expounds the species and functions of agarwood and related arts and cultures, the history and development of various incense and spices and their respective products, as well as Hong Kong's special tie with agarwood. A comprehensive account of “scent” and related stories is offered for the reader's appreciation of the wisdom of civilization.

“Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts” exhibition
Exhibition Period: 13^th - 30^th October, 2011
Time: 10:00am to 8:00pm (13^th – 29^th October 2011),
10:00am to 6:00pm (30^th October 2011)
Venue: Hong Kong City Hall Low Block Exhibition Hall

“Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour: A Collection of 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts”
Not for Sale. Published only for private collection and charity purposes. In order to raise funds for A Better Tomorrow, the Commemorative Journal will be distributed to donors at the Exhibition as a gift.

Admission tickets for the exhibition are available for free distribution. Please kindly refer to the website of “Peace and Harmony”: www.xiang-he.org for details or reach the 24-hour hotline 2898 6683 (Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation).

Dr. Paul Kan CBE, Comm OSSI, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, SBS, JP
Dr. Paul Kan is the Founder and Chair of three information technology companies (Champion Technology Holdings Limited, Kantone Holdings Limited, and DIGITALHONGKONG.COM) which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Dr. Kan is also Chair of A Better Tomorrow; Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation; and World Cultural Relics Protection Foundation. He is a fervent supporter of the information technology industry and is currently Chairman of Hong Kong IT Alliance and Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong Information Technology Industry Council. As an aficionado and connoisseur of art and culture, Dr. Kan is the Patron of International Foundation for Art Research; Member of Arts and Treasures Evaluation Committee, Ministry of Culture, China; and Executive Committee Member of Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation. Dr. Kan's contribution to the development of technology, arts and culture has received worldwide recognition. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Government of the HKSAR in 2006; awarded Commander of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2006; Commendatore dell'Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana (Comm OSSI) by the Italian Prime Minister Hon. Romano Prodi in 2006; Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French Government in 2007; and Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the Government of the HKSAR in 2009. In 2011, he was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Hungary in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.

About agarwood
Agarwood is known by various names in different cultures. In addition to “agarwood”, “agar”, “aloeswood”, “aloes”, “aloewood” and “aloe” in English, it is known as “chenxiang”, “chenshuixiang” and “shuichenxiang” in Chinese, “aguru” in Sanskrit, “oud” in Arabic and “gaharu” in Indonesian. As an extremely rare and precious aromatic natural resource, agarwood has won the epithet of “the King of Incenses”. The fragrance of agarwood mainly comes from aloewood oil (or agarwood resin). According to the perspective of current botany, agarwood is the resinous heartwood that forms in four families of trees, namely Thymelaeaceae (mainly in the genus Aquilaria), Burseraceae, Lauraceae and Euphorbiaceae. When a tree is infected by fungi caused by certain external factors, resulting in pathological transformation, it begins to produce and accumulate aromatic resin in response to such an attack. Agarwood is named “chenxiang” – which literally means “sinking incense” – in Chinese because some agarwood is so dense and hard that it sinks in water. Superior agarwood is very often a product of over a hundred years, among which Kinam is the best. Except for the supreme ones, the scent of agarwood is usually not noticeable under normal circumstances, but once the wood is burnt, an intense aroma will emit and linger over a long period. Such fragrance varies according to numerous factors including tree types, places of origin, climate, and the quality of water and soil.

“Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts” exhibition Website: www.xiang-he.org

Personal website of Dr. Paul Kan: www.paulkan.com

“World Cultures Festival 2011 – Enchanting Arts of Asia” Website: www.worldfestival.gov.hk