Policy Address

229. An important part of the Hong Kong’s cultural infrastructure, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is currently being developed into a world-class integrated arts and cultural district comprising local, traditional as well as international elements. Its first permanent facility, the M+ Pavilion, commenced operation last year. Other art and cultural facilities, including the Xiqu Centre, Art Park, Freespace and M+ Museum, will be completed one after another over the next few years. Last December, the WKCD Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Palace Museum of our country to take forward the development of the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the WKCD. The new museum will enhance the diversity of the WKCD’s facilities and its attractiveness to both locals and visitors from the Mainland and overseas.

230. To ensure the WKCD can fully attain its vision of meeting the long-term infrastructural and development needs of Hong Kong’s arts and culture, and to foster the organic growth of cultural and creative industries, the Government has decided to provide the WKCD Authority with an enhanced financial arrangement by granting it the government-owned development rights of the hotel/office/residential portion of the WKCD. The Authority may develop the hotel/office/residential facilities jointly with the private sector through open tender and a Build- Operate-Transfer arrangement, and share rental revenue from such facilities to sustain the operation of the WKCD. This will dovetail with the financing arrangement for the development of the third batch of art and cultural and related facilities, particularly a world-class Music Centre, to offer opportunities for local as well as Mainland and overseas music troupes and musicians to showcase their talent in the WKCD.

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