Culture minister Kevin Yeung said on Wednesday that the national security law will not impact arts development in the city.

He made the comment during a promotional event for the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), which is slated for October next year.

The five-day event will take place at multiple venues and feature performances, talks and exhibitions. It will also provide a platform for artists to pitch ideas and seek partnerships.

When asked whether the national security law will deter arts practitioners from coming to Hong Kong, Yeung stressed there’s plenty of room for arts development in the city.

He cited past events such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, French May Arts Festival and a range of other large-scale performances, saying the SAR remains a highly sought-after destination for arts groups.

"We as Hong Kong citizens… have a duty to ensure that national security is being upheld by everyone here," the culture chief said.

"But there is still a lot of room and a lot of freedom for us to facilitate the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong. Even more so, we have a lot of room to invite friends from the mainland and other countries to share their works and performances with us."