LCQ18: Development of arts and culture and creative industries

     Following is a question by the Hon Ma Fung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (January 22):
 
Question:
 
     According to the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development published in November last year, the Government has significantly increased the resources allocated for the development of arts and culture in the recent 10 years (i.e. from 2015-2016 to 2024-2025), and the annual Government spending (including software and hardware) has increased from $4.15 billion to $7.31 billion. In addition, the Government has also continued injecting into a number of funds related to arts and culture. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) among the resources allocated by the Government for the development of arts and culture over the past five years, of the projects and amounts involving capital expenditures and recurring expenses, and the respective amounts of injections or commitments to the arts and culture-related funds not included in the aforesaid expenditure items (set out in a table);
 
(2) of the respective amounts of funding support provided by the Government for various arts and cultural groups and artists over the past five years, as well as the respective projects funded;
 
(3) of the respective projects funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Cantonese Opera Development Fund, the Arts Portion of the Arts and Sport Development Fund, the Film Development Fund and Create Hong Kong over the past five years, and the respective returns;
 
(4) of the operation situation of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, which was completed last year, since its commissioning; and
 
(5) whether the Government has plans to introduce new hardware for arts and culture in the next five years; if so, of the details of the projects concerned; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
     
     The National 14th Five-Year Plan expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, allowing Hong Kong to fully play to its strength in international connectivity and experiences in external exchanges under "one country, two systems" so as to enhance the reach and appeal of Chinese culture and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Government is committed to developing the arts, culture and creative industries. Substantial resources have been provided to support arts and cultural groups and artists through different schemes and modes. In addition, the Government has also dedicated resources in developing and enhancing culture facilities. We hope that the sectors will seize the opportunities brought by the Government's efforts in promoting the development of the arts, culture and creative industries and the various infrastructure. My consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon MA Fung-kwok is as follows:
      
     The Government's spending on arts, culture and creative industries from 2020-21 to 2024-25 is tabled as follows:
 

# As the construction of new libraries is part of the capital works projects, a separate breakdown on the construction costs/infrastructure investment is not available.
 
* The figures refer to the annual actual expenditure/estimates of Public Works Programme projects which support WKCD. The arts and culture facilities in WKCD are constructed by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and thus the expenditure concerned has not been included in the table.
      
     The Government has been actively enhancing the facilities and quality of the hardware, increasing resources for culture facilities, as well as expanding the arts and culture facilities to promote the development of arts and culture, thereby enabling more local and international arts and cultural activities of different kinds and genres to be hosted.
      
     Among others, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre has opened its outdoor spaces, and has been gradually launching a series of trial programmes and audience building activities in some of its indoors facilities since August 2024, allowing members of the public to experience the venue and participate in unboxing activities with us. The LCSD is also carrying out the installation and enhancement works in the internal facilities, enhancing the facilities and overall operation of the venue progressively, with a view to fully commissioning it in 2025. In addition, the Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre and the New Territories East Cultural Centre are under construction and the works are expected to be completed in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
      
     The WestK Performing Arts Centre in WKCD currently under construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026. It will comprise a 1 450-seat Grand Theatre, a 600-seat Medium Theatre and a Studio Theatre with over 270 seats.
      
     With the gradual completion and opening of new venues, including LCSD's culture facilities, the Kai Tak Sports Park and the WKCD, we are reviewing the positioning of the LCSD's and other venues in Hong Kong so as to provide spaces that better cater to different types of arts and cultural activities.