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The following is issued on behalf of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority:
The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) Authority today (January 9) announced the appointment of 17 non-board members to its six committees. The term of appointment is one year.
The Board of the WKCD Authority at its first meeting in October 2008 agreed to establish six different committees to deal with various work of the WKCD development. The six committees are the Performing Arts Committee, the Museum Committee, the Development Committee, the Remuneration Committee, the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee.
The chairman of the board, Mr Henry Tang, said that the WKCD was an arts and cultural development project that had a far-reaching impact on Hong Kongˇ¦s long term development. The committees under the board had had in-depth discussions on their respective specialised areas to facilitate the preliminary work of the WKCD development. The existing board members have joined different committees in accordance with their expertise and areas of interest. There are also representatives from bureaus and departments in some of the committees where the work requires.
Mr Tang said, "I am pleased to announce that we have appointed 17 individuals who are not board members and who come from different sectors and with relevant knowledge and experience to be committee members. We believe that their relevant expertise and rich experience will facilitate the WKCD Authority (WKCDA) in tapping views from different sectors of the community so that the Cultural District would tie in better with the cultural software of Hong Kong and strengthen the work of the WKCDA.
"I, together with the board look forward to earnestly co-operate with the 17 individuals, to ensure the WKCD project will better meet the public expectations."
The WKCDA will appoint the consultation panel shortly with a view to assisting the WKCDA in undertaking the relevant public engagement work.
The WKCDA Ordinance provides that the board may determine the number of its committee members. Each of the members will be appointed by the board, and a board member (excluding the board chairman) should be appointed as the chairman of each committee.
The six committees have embarked on their respective work to press ahead with the implementation of the WKCD project. The main task of the Performing Arts Committee is to advise the WKCDA on the operation of the performing arts facilities in the WKCD and strategies on promoting performing arts. The Museum Committee mainly advises WKCDA on strategies on the operation of the museum in the WKCD. The Development Committee mainly assists the WKCDA to prepare the development plan for consideration by the Town Planning Board. The main task of the Remuneration Committee is to advise the WKCDA on the organisational structure of the WKCDA and employment terms, remuneration, allowance and fringe benefits for staff. The Audit Committee mainly considers the financial and audit matters concerning the WKCDA, and the Investment Committee mainly advises the WKCDA on matters relating to the WKCDAˇ¦s investments and monitor the management of these investments.
The membership lists of the committees are set out in the attachment. The brief profiles of the 17 non-board members of the committees are as follows:
Mr Jim Chim Sui-man
Mr Chim is a prominent stage performer in the theatre arts sector in Hong Kong. He was a member of the Performing Arts and Tourism Advisory Group of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from April 2006 to June 2007. He was invited by the US State Department to visit the United States in 2006 as a grantee of the International Visitor Leadership Programme. Mr Chim is now a Visiting Lecturer in Acting at The Shanghai Theatre Academy. He conducted training programmes in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as well as workshops for overseas universities and professional theatre groups in Beijing, England, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. He was presented with the Drama Development Fellowship by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2000, and received the Best Actor Award and the Best Supporting Actor Award of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Society in 1998 and 2000.
Ms Wang Ming-chun
Ms Wang is a prominent figure in Cantonese Opera and a famous TV artiste in Hong Kong. She is the current Chairlady of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong and a member of the People's Liberation Army Camp Visiting Committee Hong Kong. Ms Wang was a member of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council from January 1996 to December 1997 and a member of the Board of the Hong Kong Dance Company Limited from 2003 to 2005. Ms Wang served on the Advisory Panel on Chinese Opera of the then Urban Council from 1995 to 1998. She also served as an adviser on the Performing Arts, Chinese Opera of the then Regional Council from 1996 to 1998. Ms Wang was also a fundraising ambassador of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra from 2007 to 2008.
Mr Willy Tsao Sing-yuen
Mr Tsao is the Founder and Artistic Director of City Contemporary Dance Company. He was a member of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from April 2006 to June 2007. He is currently an Arts Adviser (Dance) of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. He received the Dancer of the Year Award of Hong Kong Artists Guild in 1988 and has been an Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since 2000.
Mr Benny Chia Chun-heng
Mr Chia, the founder/director of the Hong Kong Festival Fringe Limited and the Artistic Director of the City Festival, was a member of the Museums Advisory Group of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from April 2006 to June 2007. Mr Chia is experienced in arts workshop and programming of festival activities and was a member of the Art Form Panel (Festivals) under the Programme and Development Committee of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department from November 2006 to October 2008. Mr Chia was a member of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council from April 1994 to June 2000. Currently, he sits on the Board of the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Mr Timothy Calnin
Mr Calnin joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society in January 2004 as an Artistic Consultant. He has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the society since June 2005 and is well versed in the development requirements for orchestral music. Mr Calnin was a member of the Performing Arts and Tourism Advisory Group of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from April 2006 to June 2007. Mr Calnin was the Artistic Administrator of the Sydney Symphony for eight years and prior to that, he worked as the General Manager of the Academy of Ancient Music in London in his early years.
Mr Lau Wai-keung
Mr Lau is a famous film director and has been in the movie industry for nearly 30 years. He has directed many well-known films including ˇ§Infernal Affairsˇ¨, ˇ§Initial Dˇ¨ and the series of ˇ§Young and Dangerousˇ¨ which made him one of the best directors in the city. Mr Lau is knowledgeable in moving image and his works have been highly praised on the Mainland, Hong Kong, as well as Hollywood. Mr Lau worked in the photography field in his early years and has rich experience in visual arts.
Ms Claire Hsu
Ms Hsu is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Asia Art Archive (AAA). Approaching its eighth year, the AAA has grown to become one of the famous public resources and platforms for contemporary Asian art. Ms Hsu was a member of the Museums Advisory Group of the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from April 2006 to June 2007. She has also participated as a speaker in a number of forums around the world.
Mr Alan Wan
Mr Wan has been serving as the Secretary of the Hong Kong Comics & Animation Federation Limited since 2002. He is experienced in both the youth culture and the creative arts. Mr Wan has a keen interest in digital entertainment and is devoted to the promotion of comics and animations culture in Hong Kong and the mainland. He is currently an Adjudicator of the Panel of Adjudicators (Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles).
Mr David Pong Chun-yee
Mr Pong is the incumbent Vice-Chairman of the Ink Society and is knowledgeable in contemporary Chinese ink paintings. He is devoted to the promotion of exchange between local and overseas visual arts. He serves on the Board of Trustees of The Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Mr Pong is also a Council Member of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, a co-opted Board member of the Hong Kong Arts Centre and a member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Cultural Council (HK Chapter).
Mr Lee Shing-see
Mr Lee is an experienced civil engineer and is well versed with issues concerning large infrastructural projects. Mr Lee is also active in community services. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Hong Kong Design Centre and Hong Kong Cyperport Management Company Limited. He is also a member of the Construction Industry Council and the Environmental Impact Assessment Appeal Board Panel. Mr Lee was the Secretary for Works and Permanent Secretary (Transport & Works).
Mr Raymond Fung Wing-kee
Mr Fung is an experienced architect, designer and painter who has gained numerous awards including five Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Awards, three Hong Kong Designers Association Design Awards and four selections in the Hong Kong Art Biennale. Mr Fung is currently the Adjunct Associate Professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a member of the Advisory Committee on Revitalization of Historic Buildings as well as the Advisory Committee on Bridges and Associated Structures, and an advisor of Museum of Arts of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Mr Liu Sing-cheong
Mr Liu is a well-known estate surveyor. He was the Chairman of the Asia Pacific Board of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors from 2003 to 2005. Mr Liu has good years of practical experience in integrating commercial facilities with arts and cultural facilities, heritage and conservation elements in development projects. He was the Honorary Professor of the Department of Real Estate and Construction of the University of Hong Kong from 1999 to 2008. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is also a member of the Council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
Mr Lai Kam-tong
Mr Lai is a well-known and experienced human resources expert in the field. He was the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM) from 2005 to 2008 and is currently the Chairman of Remuneration Committee of the HKIHRM. He served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Admission of Quality Migrants and Professionals from July 2006 to June 2008 and the Committee on Employment Services of the Labour Advisory Board from February 2001 to December 2004. Mr Lai was a member of the Committee on Labour Relations of the Labour Advisory Board from January 2007 to December 2008.
Mr Kevin Westley
Mr Westley worked for many years in the banking and finance sector. He was a member of the Financial Matters Advisory Group under the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the WKCD from September 2006 to June 2007. Mr Westley is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation and a member of the Personalized Vehicle Registration Marks Vetting Committee. He was the Chairman of the Takeovers and Mergers Panel of the Securities and Futures Commission from April 1995 to March 2008 and a member of the Takeovers Appeal Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission from July 1992 to March 2008.
Mr David Sun Tak-kei
Mr Sun is a fellow accountant and is active in the community services. He served as the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2003 and currently serves on a number of Government appointed boards and committees, including the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and Process Review Panel for the Securities & Futures Commission.
Mr Leo Kung Lin-cheng
Mr Kung is a professional in banking and financial services, with extensive experiences in serving the community. Currently, Mr Kung is a member of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation and a non-executive director of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. Mr Kung was a member of the Prisonersˇ¦ Education Trust Fund Investment Advisory Committee from December 2001 to November 2007. He was a member of the Start-up Loan for Post-secondary Education Providers Vetting Committee since September 2001 and a member of the Selection Committee for the Allocation of Sites to Post-secondary Education Providers since June 2002.
Dr Kam Pok-man
Dr Kam, a professional accountant, is a current member of the Process Review Panel for the Securities and Futures Commission, the Financial Reporting Council, the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong. He was the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants from December 1998 to December 2000. He was also a member of the Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption from January 1999 to December 2004, the Licensing Appeals Board from January 2000 to December 2005, and the Travel Industry Compensation Fund Management Board from October 2001 to October 2007 respectively.
Ends/Friday, January 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:54
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