Creative gathering: Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau speaks at the gala dinner for Hong Kong's creative talent and their overseas counterparts.

Hong Kong people's creativity has driven the city's architectural sector to become one of the foremost in Asia and one of its top creative industries, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Rita Lau says.

Opening the Hong Kong exhibition at the 11th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition in Venice September 12 Mrs Lau applauded the creativity of Hong Kong exhibitors.

Praising Hong Kong architects' presentation of creative ideas to improve quality of living, she said the pursuit of quality living has propelled people's creativity to develop new ideas and designs.

To facilitate exchange and discussion between Hong Kong's creative talent and their overseas counterparts, Mrs Lau hosted a gala dinner for guests including representatives from overseas creative organisations, leading architects and designers of participating countries of the Architecture Biennale.

The Government has allocated more than $1.8 million in sponsorship to support the Hong Kong exhibition in Venice as well as a response exhibition.

The Hong Kong exhibition features the creativity of Hong Kong in six categories - objects, buildings, landscapes, city, media and text. Nine groups of local exhibitors, comprising architects, designers, photographers, performers, and writers and critics, will showcase their interpretations of architecture at this international platform.