Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at the European League of Institute of Arts Leadership Symposium Hong Kong today (December 7):

Philip(Soden), Professor (Hans-Peter) Schwarz, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     It is indeed my pleasure to be here to join so many of you, esteemed members of the arts world.  The staging of ELIA’s symposium in Hong Kong this year is certainly a vote of confidence for our city’s arts and cultural development.  I hope that, in the future, we will host many more high-profile international cultural conferences like this one.

     Hong Kong is naturally positioned to play a unique and significant role in promoting the arts in this region.  Hong Kong is on many of the major transit routes so it is a convenient stopping off place for artists and performers, as well as for staging exhibitions.  We are in easy striking distance of many cities in Asia and we are a popular short-haul tourist destination for people in the Mainland.

     Given our central location, at the crossroads of many of the world’s cultures, we combine the best of Oriental and Occidental taste and style. By nature, Hong Kong people are quick to adopt new trends and fashions, and we are eager to embrace new cultural experiences through the arts.

     Each year our arts and entertainment programme contains new and exciting shows and events, but your presence here has added a new dimension to the way we view the business and education side of the arts. This is indeed a growth area in Hong Kong given our development focus for the sector.

     Today I will talk about the biggest and most exciting opportunity for the development of our arts and culture. It is called the West Kowloon Cultural District and it promises to transform our arts scene. This cultural district will be a dedicated arts and entertainment centre about the size of 40 full-size football fields conveniently located on the Kowloon harbourfront with magnificent harbour view.

     The district would house 15 performing arts venues of different scales, a new and forward looking cultural institution with museum functions, and an exhibition centre.  If all goes to plan, we aim to complete the project in stages starting from 2014.  It will be quite a challenge to pull together plans of such a scale and within such a short timeframe.

     The government has earmarked more than HK$21 billion, or US$2.7 billion, for the cultural hardware part of the project.  We are also investing resources to enhance our cultural software, which should include support for arts groups, artists, arts education, and cultural facilities management.  We see this as a long-term investment that will help to enrich the lives of people here for many years to come. Ultimately, the cultural district will be an integrated cultural hub with world-class facilities and programmes to attract both local and international audiences.

     I very much believe art is fuel for the soul. So it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to attach a price tag to arts and culture.  But we would want the whole project to be self-sustainable financially. As I mentioned earlier, the government has proposed to provide a one-off endowment to cover all the capital costs of the various arts and other facilities.  The rental income from shops, dining, entertainment and commercial sites in the district would be used to subsidise the operating deficits from the arts and cultural facilities.  

     At this point, I feel obliged to make some factual clarifications in response to the comments made by a good friend of mine, Mr David Tang, the last keynote speaker on West Kowloon Cultural District project. Firstly, the West Kowloon Cultural District is for both the rich and the poor. All the facilities would be planned to offer opportunities affordable to all arts groups and all people.

     Secondly, on financial arrangements, the Government is prepared to provide the required funding to develop all the arts facilities in the Cultural District, irrespective of whether we manage to receive any revenue from the sale of land.

     Thirdly, cultural software development is an on-going long-term commitment of the Government. We are currently spending about HK$2.5 billion each year on cultural software, including support for arts groups and artists provision and management of arts and cultural venues, as well as arts education including supporting the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. We are planning to increase this commitment to strengthen cultural software through a series of measures. So David, please take note of these factual clarifications, and we shall continue to be good friends.

     My interest in this project is both personal and professional. As a keen follower of the arts, I am excited by its tremendous potential. And as Chief Secretary, I have the responsibility to ensure that the project will add to the vibrancy, diversity, and creativity of this cosmopolitan city.  

     We fully recognise the importance of software in making this project a great success. So we are keen to make early progress on the development of software and talent. Part of my job in this regard will be to oversee the development of our cultural software and supporting arts education, art groups, audience building, research and management reforms.  We are working closely with the arts and cultural sector to make sure we get the formula right.

     So the timing of this symposium could hardly be better. I say that because in the coming week, a public exercise to gauge views on the cultural district project will come to an end.  The results of this consultation which lasted for three months, will have a direct bearing on the core arts and cultural facilities in the cultural district.

     In terms of substance, I am glad to know that the Symposium has identified four key aspects that art education can contribute to creating quality cultural software.  

     The discussions over the past few days provide valuable insight as to how we in Hong Kong could build our cultural software that will provide the soul and the spirit to complement the hardware.  I encourage ELIA members to continue sharing their experience and expertise in art education, management training and other areas of software.

     I am sure there will also be some tempting opportunities for arts administrators, artists and technical experts to develop their careers in Hong Kong in the future.  Indeed I gather that quite a number of you have expressed keen interest in knowing more about the cultural district project.   As you have quite a packed programme of activities during the past few days, it had not been possible to arrange an optional briefing session on this.  I have asked my colleagues to provide you with the essential information and publicity materials.  We would also keep you posted on the latest developments as we progress.

     Let me say that Hong Kong is eager to press ahead with its arts and culture development. We have the location, we have the know-how and we have the enthusiasm to lift the arts and culture scene to a new level. The cultural district project will be at the forefront in the long-term development of culture and arts.

     I hope ELIA will continue to use Hong Kong as a platform for your activities and trust that we will see you back in the near future.

     Ladies and gentlemen, the Academy for Performing Arts boast some of the best and most unique education facilities in our city.  But I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy our city during your stay. It is impossible to miss the international influences that touch our lives every day, in the shops and restaurants and in our cinemas and theatres during the most festive season of the year.

     Last but certainly not least, I would like to congratulate the City of Zurich on hosting the 2009 Leadership Symposium.  Good luck.

     Thank you.

Ends/Friday, December 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:37

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