Fair tour: Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau (third left) tours the Hong Kong Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2009.

Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau has visited Vienna to strengthen ties with this major cultural capital of Europe and network with potential cultural partners for the West Kowloon Cultural District's development.

Speaking to the Austrian cultural sector, community leaders and senior officials at a luncheon today, she outlined the Government's determination to build Hong Kong into an international cultural and creative hub.

Mrs Yau said due to its unique geographical location Hong Kong is able to provide access to a large audience from the region for performing arts programmes and exhibitions.

Hong Kong, as Asia's world city, has a cultural fusion of east and west as well as a well-educated, sophisticated and multicultural society, which help make it a distinctive cultural capital, she added.

Noting the Government attaches great importance to the promotion of creative and cultural industries, she updated the Austrian community on the latest developments in the West Kowloon cultural project.

"Our single largest and most ambitious project is all about arts and culture. The Government has already committed an upfront endowment of almost two billion euros to implement this project," she said.

"When commissioning starts in 2015, the WKCD will have various performing arts venues, including a mega performance venue, theatres, concert halls and music halls. There will also be a contemporary art museum called M+ and outdoor piazzas for people to enjoy the atmosphere."