THE HONG KONG Tourism Board (HKTB) is another of those quasi-government institutions where I have no fan club. I have had the HKTB in my sights too often to expect it.
But let me see if I can perhaps start one up. Congratulations, fellows, well done, you have shown the door to yet another of those corporate beggars who think that the contents of the public purse should be poured into their hands simply because they have stretched those hands out.
I am referring here to a complaint by James Cundall, director of IMG Arts and Entertainment, who is bringing the stage musical Fame here but says that lack of support from the HKTB makes it hard to attract large-scale productions to Hong Kong.
'Singapore's tourism board is very keen to work with us in promoting the shows. They have also helped us with grants . . . I don't get the same support in Hong Kong. No one from the HKTB has ever called me to discuss what shows I am planning to bring over in the future,' he says.
The first thing to notice here is the tired old plea of Singapore-does-it-and-therefore-we-should-do-it-too. You would have thought this line long worn out by now. What Singapore has done by scattering public money far and wide on things such as this has driven itself into an economic pit. What Singapore does best is show us what not to do.
The second thing to notice is that this pitch is made to the HKTB. Why the HKTB? I could understand if it was the Arts Council but then the Arts Council has a way of giving these things short shrift too - foreign production not done by us. Get lost.
Perhaps the HKTB is considered a soft touch. It will help this kind of production occasionally if there is topical interest and visitors can be attracted from elsewhere in Asia to see it. Fame, however, has little topical relevance and is a touring show that will go elsewhere in Asia.