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The following is issued on behalf of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority:
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), Mr Henry Tang, at a media session on the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA today (May 27):
After a four-month open and rigorous selection process, I am pleased to announce that at today's meeting the Board of the WKCDA has agreed, and the Chief Executive has approved, to appoint Mr Michael Lynch as the chief executive officer of the Authority. Mr Lynch will take office on July 25. I would like to formally welcome Mr Lynch to join our team.
We are very pleased to have Michael joining the WKCDA. Michael brings in over 30 years of art administration experience in various arts and cultural aspects. He is highly-respected and has extensive network in the international arts and culture scene which will be invaluable to the development of the authority.
Mr Lynch was the former chief executive of Southbank Centre in London. Under his leadership, Southbank developed a clear artistic vision and development strategy, as well as upgrading its cultural facilities. He has helped transform Southbank into a world-renowned multi-cultural district.
Michael has also held top jobs in the arts and cultural field in Australia. He has also served as CEO of Sydney Opera House, the iconic building which we all love so much. He also sat on the Australia Council, which is a government organisation to fund and advise on arts and cultural affairs. I have no doubt that he will bring to us a wealth of experience in management and cultural affairs.
More importantly, Mr Lynch has been passionate about West Kowloon Cultural District for a long time. He has a deep understanding and insight into its future development and artistic positioning. Indeed, when Michael visited us in 2009 to participate in a forum organised by David Tang, he spoke strongly about the need and support for the West Kowloon Cultural District development.
We are now moving full steam ahead with the project. We aim to firm up the development plan after Stage 3 of the Public Engagement Exercise this summer. But at the same time, we are also devoting a lot of efforts on software development and on educational programmes. An international arts heavyweight like Mr Lynch coming on board at this crucial juncture would strengthen the management team and widen our international network. I firmly believe Michael would inject new elements into this important project and help turn West Kowloon Cultural District into a truly world-class cultural and art centre.
The Board and the management team look forward to working closely with Michael.
I would also like to thank all our committee chairmen for sharing the work of the CEO post over the past few months. It has been a rather challenging time but everybody works together. I would also like to thank the management team who has rallied together to ensure the project could be delivered on time and as planned as the public have expected.
Today we are moving into our new office here, which you can see is much closer to West Kowloon. We have a new CEO in place. It's time we turn a new page and forge ahead with this meaningful project.
Reporter: After Mr Sheffield's incident, have you actually changed the contract terms for Mr Lynch so that just in case he is taking up another job, if he is going to leave, in an overseas, international spectrum? Thank you.
Board Chairman: The former CEO's incident was an isolated affair and he resigned due to health reason. I would like to wish him well in his recovery and in his new job. In light of the previous experience, we have added in fair conditions that will ensure it is fair to both sides.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, May 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:57
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