Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Forum on the West Kowloon Cultural District Project, 21 March 2005

Topic: Feasible Modes of Governance and Operation

Questions:

1. How to establish a sustainable framework in governing the arts and cultural facilities of the WKCD?
   
   
2. Is it necessary to advocate the idea brought by some arts practitioners that an independent "WCKD Authority' should be established?
   
   
3. How to ensure that the WKCD Project is jointly planned and monitored by the Government, the arts community and property developers?
   
   
4. How to ensure the Operation fund(s) as proposed by the successful proponent can genuinely enhance the long term development of the arts and culture?
   
   
5. Is it necessary to advocate the enactment of legislation on museum or museum collection?
   
   
6. What kind of role should the Government take in the governance and operation of the arts and cultural facilities in the WKCD?
   
   

Replies from Ink Society:

(1) & (2) It is the view of The Ink Society that a statutory body should be set up to govern the arts and cultural facilities of the WKCD. For a more detailed discussion on this subject, please refer to the enclosed Position Paper of The Ink Society (December 2003) and the Society.s latest letter to the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands dated 28th February 2005.

1. The extended consultation period on the project to June this year should give the Hong Kong public including the arts community ("AC") the time required to express their views on the project.

   AC should fight for (i) an early establishment of the statutory body for WKCD and (ii) representation in this statutory body so that AC can help to shape and monitor the whole development.
   
   

2. The channeling of operation fund should be governed by a contract between the Government and the successful developer. But how much each cultural institution could get is a matter to be worked out between each cultural institution and the statutory body of the WKCD (which is an accepted mode of governance by all three selected developers). It is the view of the Ink Society that each cultural institute should develop its own requirements and operation mode as each one has its own peculiar features and problems. The role of the WKCD statutory body should be for funding and co-ordinating the activities of various cultural institutes in the WKCD.
   
   
3. To give credibility to the museum and comfort to prospective donors, there should be statutory body set up for each individual museum. The view of The Ink Society on this subject is set out clearly in its letter of 28th February 2005 to the Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands.
   
   
4. Again this issue was well canvassed in The Ink Society.s position paper and letter of 28th February 2005 to the Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands.