West Kowloon Cultural District Minutes of the Twenty-eighth Board Meeting Held on Monday, 4 February 2013, at 3:00 p.m. in Board Room, West Kowloon Cultural District, 29/F, Tower 6, The Gateway, 9 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Members Present: (Open Session) The Hon Carrie LAM CHENG Yuet-ngor, GBS, JP Chief Secretary for Administration (Chairman) The Hon Ronald ARCULLI, GBM, GBS, JP Mr Raymond FUNG Wing Kee, JP Mr Chris IP Ngo-tung Mr Leo KUNG Lin-cheng, BBS, JP The Hon Jeffrey LAM Kin-fung, GBS, JP Mr Andrew LAM Siu-lo, JP Dr Victor LO Chung Wing, GBS, JP The Hon MA Fung-kwok, SBS, JP The Hon SIN Chung-kai, SBS, JP Mr Philip TSAI Wing-chung, JP Ms YIP Wing-sie, JP Dr the Hon Allan ZEMAN, GBM, GBS, JP The Hon TSANG Tak-sing, GBS, JP Secretary for Home Affairs The Hon Paul CHAN Mo-po, MH, JP Secretary for Development Ms Julia LEUNG Fung-yee, SBS, JP Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Mr Michael LYNCH, CBE, AM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the West Kowloon Cultural District () Ms Bonny WONG Director, CEO s Office of (Secretary)
In Attendance : All Items Mr YOUNG Lap Moon, Raymond, JP Mrs LAI WONG Shuk-han, Avia Ms Elizabeth TAI Ka-pui Mr WAN Man Leung Mr Bruno LUK Kar-kin Mr Gilford LAW Sun On Dr CHAN Man-wai Dr Lars NITTVE Mr Louis YU Kwok-lit Mr Garmen CHAN Ka-yiu Dr Eva LAM Yee-wah Ms Eva KWONG Pui-han Mr Peter HO Chi-wah Ms Monica CHEUNG Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs (3) Principal Assistant Secretary for Home Affairs (West Kowloon Cultural District) Project Manager (HAB) Administrative Assistant to Chief Secretary for Administration Press Secretary to Chief Secretary for Administration Project Delivery of M+ of Performing Arts of Communications and Marketing of Finance of Human Resources of Internal Auditor of Legal Advisor of Page 2
Absent with Apologies : Professor LEE Chack-fan, SBS, JP Professor Jenny SO Fong-suk Mr Danny YUNG Ning-tsun PART B - OPEN SESSION WITH WEBCASTING Item 3 Chief Executive Officer s Report 12. The Chairman remarked that this part of the meeting was open to the public through webcasting at the s website. The open item was a verbal update from the CEO on the progress made since the last Board meeting. 13. Mr Michael LYNCH reported on the following matters : (a) Transparency Issue: was committed to making its proceedings and work as transparent as possible. (b) Chief Executive s Policy Address 2013: The Chief Executive s reassurance in his Policy Address under Supporting Arts and Culture was referred to. In recognition of the demand of the cultural sector of Hong Kong, the Chief Executive had also indicated in the Policy Address that an additional funding of $150 million was to be allocated to training of arts administrators with different levels of experience. had been discussing with Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and other cultural bodies on the way forward to address the issue of building the capacity of and the cultural sector in Hong Kong. (c) Xiqu Centre Design Competition: The winning design was approved in the last Board meeting and announced on 10 December 2012. The selected team had been working with. Members of the community could see the winning design at the exhibition alongside the Page 3
Bamboo Theatre. (d) M+ Design Competition: The shortlist of the six finalists was decided in the last Board meeting and announced on 10 December 2012. Two workshops had been conducted. After the closing date of submission of the final designs, the Jury would begin their deliberation, with a view to announcing the outcome in mid-june after the approval of the Development Committee and the Board. (e) Symposia organized by M+ in December: The two symposia, one on Asian Design: Histories, Collecting, Curating and another on Histories and Individual Practices of Contemporary Ink Art, provided significant opportunities to engage artists and members of the museum and design community. (f) The Collection: Since the establishment of the Interim Acquisition Committee under the Museum Committee, over 360 pieces of work had been acquired, the majority of which came from Hong Kong artists. (g) Freespace Fest: It was conducted during the weekend of 15 to 16 December 2012. 20,000 people enjoyed this free event. (h) Bamboo Theatre 2013: Diversified programmes and the 800-seat purpose-built bamboo theatre were highlighted. Around 30,000 people visited for the first 6 days. (i) Festive Drums for a Roaring New Year: The concert by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra would be held on the 17 February 2013 to celebrate the Chinese New Year on the site. (j) M+: M+ INFLATION!, an inflatable art works exhibition would take place from April to June. Also, Hong Kong artist Lee Kit would be representing Hong Kong in the Venice Biennale which would take place between May and November. (k) Others: New committee and subcommittee members were recently appointed. s Code on Access to Information had been implemented. The Chief Executive Page 4
in Council had approved the Development Plan. 14. The Chairman remarked that the Chief Executive s initiative of allocating $150 million for training more arts administrators was a very substantive commitment. It was expected to be used in the next four to five years. 15. Mr Raymond YOUNG supplemented that the funding for nurturing arts administrators had been increased over the years. There were programmes run by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) and Leisure and Cultural Services Department. HAB would use the additional funding to groom more art administrators at different levels to support the future WKCD. 16. The Chairman added that the intention of the funding allocation was to conduct training intensively instead of spreading its use over a long period of time. She hoped that, through s connection and international networking, this commitment could be fully leveraged on. She also pointed out that Economic and Trade Offices of the HKSAR Government situated in various countries worldwide could provide assistance in networking with overseas arts institutions. 17. Hon SIN Chung-kai reported that the Remuneration Committee would discuss with HAB how could step up efforts in training arts administrators in the coming years. 18. Hon Jeffrey LAM asked how many attendants to the Bamboo Theatre came from overseas. Mr Michael LYNCH observed that many came from the local community and there were group visits from housing estates organized by some District Councils. There were also tourists coming to the site. Mr Louis YU supplemented that 95% of the audience who paid were local audience. Tourism Board had provided assistance by putting the event onto their calendar and website. 19. Dr Allan ZEMAN added that the American Institute of Page 5
Architects also visited the site. He reiterated the importance to capture the atmosphere of Hong Kong with a blend of new building and old culture. 20. Hon Jeffrey LAM suggested keeping the Bamboo Theatre in WKCD even though the new Xiqu Centre would be built later. Mr Michael LYNCH replied that was considering conducting the Bamboo Theatre in the Park next year and making it an annual event while the Xiqu Centre was being built. 21. Mr Philip TSAI asked whether there would be any arrangement for students and children to visit the Bamboo Theatre. Mr Louis YU replied that four previews were arranged for the local community and schools before the Bamboo Theatre was opened, so that students could see performers demonstration before their Chinese New Year holidays. 22. Regarding the Freespace Fest, Mr Chris IP remarked that he had talked with some artists and young people. They appreciated the opportunities and requested for more. Mr IP suggested providing free space for artists before the commencement of the development of the Park and other facilities. The Chairman noted the bazaar of stores at the Bamboo Theatre, and the effort made to identify young designers with unique skills. She reminded that Hong Kong was in need of such space, therefore we should make full use of this wonderful and conveniently-located site to provide space for use by artists/ designers/ performers at inexpensive rental. This would build up goodwill for as well. West Kowloon Cultural District April 2013 Page 6