Call for 'arts lovers' only to serve on board of West Kowloon Cultural District

The board of the West Kowloon Cultural District should be thoroughly reviewed and chaired by an independent figure instead of the chief secretary.

This is the view of critics and board members including veteran artist Danny Yung Ning-tsun, who called for someone with vision to chair the board.

"The composition of the board, and appointment process require a comprehensive review," said Yung, co-artistic director of experimental theatre group Zuni Icosahedron.

Other board members, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared his view. They said the board should not be chaired by the chief secretary.

Current Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, they said, was too busy handling hot potatoes such as political reform.

Members were also frustrated by the bureaucratic structure of the cultural district and said the composition of the board was aimed more at balancing power among vested interests than at managing the project well.