Arts groups are making a last-ditch appeal to the government to delay a scheme that aims to promote their sector by making use of old factory buildings.
The groups claim that the scheme, to be launched on April 1, will 'poison the entire sector' by introducing higher rents that artists cannot afford.
A coalition of San Po Kong-based arts groups has called for the scheme to be pushed back, pending more consultation, and wants a fund to be set up by the government to subsidise smaller-scale arts groups.
The coalition, supported by former legislator Chan Yuen-han, is expected to raise the demands at a meeting with Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor today.
'We hope the government can delay the policy before it is too late. The scheme itself is not a bad idea, but without other policies to co-ordinate, it will only end up killing the entire creative industry,' Chan said.
Many of the small-scale arts groups are operating in old factory blocks to take advantage of lower rents. But, under the so-called industrial building revitalisation policy, landlords are encouraged to convert and refurbish old industrial buildings by means of more preferential terms in land premium payments or looser requirements for applications.