LCQ21: Arts and cultural activities and mega events
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Question:
There are views that arts and cultural activities serve as an essential vehicle for value transmission. In recent years, the Government has invested a great deal of resources in relevant projects, and the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund (Mega ACE Fund) has, since its establishment, supported 21 mega arts and cultural events, with a total approved funding of about $230 million. The Chief Executive has pointed out in the 2023 Policy Address that the Government endeavours to build mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of the "one country, two systems" (the mainstream values). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) how the various departments under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) guarantee that the various types of arts and cultural projects being supported are in line with the gatekeeping efforts to uphold the mainstream values;
(2) of the mechanisms or clear guidelines the Government have put in place for vetting and approving arts and cultural activities and mega events to ensure that they will not go against the mainstream values throughout the process from planning to implementation; and
(3) of the number of government-subsidised arts and cultural projects associated with the promotion of the mainstream values, as well as the percentage share and effectiveness of such projects, and set out the relevant information by project in a table?
Reply:
President,
My consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:
As announced by the Chief Executive under the chapter of Patriotic Education in the 2023 Policy Address, the Government endeavours to build mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of the "one country, two systems".
Regarding mega arts and cultural events, the CSTB has been promoting Chinese history and culture to the public to foster their appreciation of Chinese culture, to deepen their understanding of our country, as well as to enhance their sense of national identity through multiple channels. In terms of organisational structure, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department established the Chinese Culture Promotion Office in April last year, with a view to taking forward related work in a more focused and strategic manner.
In the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated in November last year, the first strategic direction that we put forward is to promote profound traditional Chinese culture and develop cultural contents with Hong Kong character. Under this strategic direction, the CSTB and its departments stay firmly rooted in mainstream values when handling various works related to arts and culture, including the assessment of all applications of the Mega ACE Fund. We will also monitor the operation of the approved projects to ensure the events take place in the manner that the interests of our country and the general public would be safeguarded.
Regarding the promotion of profound traditional Chinese culture, the Mega ACE Fund has approved around $74.36 million to support six events in relation to the promotion of Chinese culture since its establishment. Details are as follows:
| Title of Event (by event date) |
Approved Funding Amount ($) |
Event Date | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
"Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China" | 8,000,000 | July 29, 2023 to April 14, 2024 | 163 141 |
| 2. | INK ASIA 2023 | 13,672,155.7 | October 4-8, 2023 | 32 889 (the fair) 829 633 (other side programmes) |
| 3. | A Path to Glory - Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial．The World of Wuxia | 15,000,000 | March 15 to October 31, 2024 |
214 841 |
| 4. | Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival | 14,686,070 | July 9-14, 2024 |
34 300 |
| 5. | ART021 Hong Kong Contemporary Art Fair | 15,000,000 | August 28 to September 8, 2024 | 111 622 |
| 6. | The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries | 8,000,000** | December 18, 2024 to May 4, 2025 | 109 661@ |
** Actual grant amount to be finalised upon the submission of audited report by the grantee after the event
The six events attracted a total attendance of around 1.5 million and were well received, allowing a large number of public and tourists to understand and learn the profound traditional Chinese culture through the events.
Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:36
Issued at HKT 11:36
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