Warm greeting: Officiating at the opening of the Hong Kong Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennial, Dr Patrick Ho is greeted by artists showcasing their works at the pavilion.

Hong Kong is a safe and healthy place to visit, and will emerge from the SARS crisis a more beautiful and energetic place.

This was the message from Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho to visitors at the Hong Kong Pavilion in Venice yesterday.

Officiating at the opening of the Pavilion at the 50th Venice Biennial, Dr Ho said: "Although the SARS crisis has cost us dearly, many of our advantages have been rediscovered - the transparency of our information network, the professionalism of our medical staff and the community spirit demonstrated by our people."

To restore local and overseas confidence, Hong Kong has embarked on a relaunch campaign. Cultural aspects to be highlighted include a Cultural Industries Festival, an Asia Cultural Co-operation Conference and an International Symposium on Art in Public Space, he added.

The Venice Biennial, highly regarded as the Expo of International Arts, showcases works presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. This is the second time Hong Kong has taken part.

Dr Ho later hosted a dinner for over 110 artists from Asian regions, including the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore as well as Chinese artists based in France and Canada to discuss arts development and to exchange ideas for co-operation.