Speech of Dr. Paul Kan CBE, Comm OSSI, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, SBS, JP

Mr. Tsang Tak-sing, consuls-general, prominent guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you very much for joining us today at the opening ceremony of the Exhibition, which is part of our “Peace and Harmony” series. In 2007, we organized the exhibition “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of Avalokitesvara from Tibet, China”, with “Mercy” as its theme. In 2009, we organized the exhibition “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of Manjusri enshrining the Wisdom of China”, highlighting wisdom. This year's exhibition “Peace and Harmony – The Divine Spectra of China's Fragrant Harbour, with 108 Aloes of Sacred Scripture and Related Artifacts” revolves around the theme of “gratitude” and continues to spread the message of “Peace and Harmony”. It is hoped that such efforts on cultural interaction and integration will help create a world of utopia.

Why would I have picked agarwood as the subject of the exhibition? One of the reasons is the long-standing tradition and the significant roles that agarwood and other incense and spices have played in different cultures. Not only did the ancient Chinese use it for religious offerings, it was also deemed a superior incense in Japanese Kodo (incense ceremony) as well as in Egyptian mummification and perfuming in the Middle East. Moreover, various faiths, including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam have all used agarwood, a supreme incense by nature, to pay tribute to their Lords. This makes me feel that true goodness and beauty should not be confined by geography, race, language or religion – this absence of borders, physical and spiritual, is the ultimate essence of “Peace and Harmony”, and underlines what “integration” means to us in this world and era.

Staging the agarwood exhibition in Hong Kong has another significance. 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. Whereas incense represents gratitude, the name “Hong Kong” literally signifies a harbour with gratefulness. Watching our city developed from a tiny port for incense trade centuries ago to a famous metropolis nowadays, and ranking amongst the top tier comparable to any capital in the world in many different parameters, we should be grateful and proud to be a member here.

The price of quality agarwood is way above that of gold. Kinam, the best agarwood, even enjoys the reputation of “the diamond of plants”. It takes a long time for agarwood to be formed – ranging from a number of decades to hundreds of years, depending on the quantity of the resin contained therein.

I would like to share with you some inspiration I got while collecting agarwood. Agarwood as timber of the tree does not bear any scent. In fact, an agarwood tree does not produce agarwood incense until it is injured – by lightning, wind, insects, etc. Only when it is hurt would it release resin to heal its wound. Years and decades, or even centuries later, the resin-wrapped branches, going through tree fall and decay, and affected by different environmental factors, would evolve into different kinds of “agarwood incense”, commonly known as “aloe” or “agarwood”. These are the priceless gems. This phenomenon has taught me an important lesson in life. While we complain about what we lack, have we ever noticed that we are already owning the best treasures on our soil? Like agarwood, rather than self-pitying, we should grasp the opportunity to learn, reflect and sublime when hurt. Real peace and harmony begins with understanding, appreciating and making good use of oneself instead of depending on others and craving after what we don't or can't have. Even an ordinary tree will become a priceless gem with the passage of time.

A young agarwood has very limited fragrance or no fragrance at all. When a piece of agarwood goes under fire, its fragrance takes wing and radiates. It is very similar to someone who is going through the slow processes of lifetime learning and therefore has yet to be noticed, even though the potential is slowly being realized. It takes hundreds of years for agarwood to sublime, which is parallel to the time, effort and patience we have to take to complete our lessons.

It is therefore rather distressing for me to hear that there are actually people hewing agarwood trees for personal interests. In fact, agarwood trees and agarwood incense are not the same. Agarwood as timber of the tree does not bear any scent. Our ancestors used to collect agarwood from rotten trees, while people nowadays sometimes wound the trees with spades and axes. Many trees have died as a result and it is creating a serious survival problem for the invaluable species as well as the environment. Felling agarwood trees without considering their survival is no difference from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It is our shortsightedness that has caused natural resources to diminish, a sad fact that is worth our reflection.

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”. Let me express my gratitude to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which has worked with us in putting together this exhibition. I would also like to take this opportunity to make a bold suggestion to the Government to plant more agarwood trees around Hong Kong. This will bring us incredible benefits in multiple respects, be it social, economic, physical, cultural or spiritual, as well as in promoting “Peace and Harmony”. If the Government would consider such a move, we would support with all our heart. Separately, I would like to re-iterate that Chinese World Cultural Heritage Foundation, on receiving and keeping in custody the treasures from the Peace and Harmony exhibitions, has been looking for a permanent home for the exhibits. If any person or government department has a suitable place in mind, please contact me. I'll be most delighted to hear about this “new home”.

Lastly, May I wish you good health and long life, be filled with bliss. Thank you everyone! I hope you will all enjoy the exhibition and may Peace and Harmony be with you.