Hong Kong traditional opera troupes welcome ‘One Belt, One Road’ showcase initiative – but only if performed in Cantonese

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is seeking funding to support Hong Kong’s Cantonese opera troupes perform in One Belt, One Road countries to showcase traditional Chinese culture as part of the cultural exchange initiatives outlined in his recent policy address.

The city’s artists and troupes welcomed the initiative to promote Hong Kong arts and culture, adding that it will also help highlight the completion of the Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon Cultural District in 2017 – but only if performances are delivered in Cantonese.

Leung said in his speech last Wednesday that cultural exchanges will play a key role under the One Belt, One Road initiative, a trade strategy Beijing launched in 2013 to spur mainland firms to go global.

Later he told a media briefing he hoped the government could support Hong Kong Cantonese opera troupes to perform in the Belt and Road countries to showcase the essence of Chinese culture abroad.

The city’s Cantonese opera practitioners welcomed the idea. They said it is listed in the Unesco as intangible cultural heritage and the Cantonese-rooted art form is best represented in Hong Kong. But to retain its essence, performances must be delivered in Cantonese. Along the One Belt, One Road strategy, there are 65 countries spanning from east and Central Asia to the West.

Recently audiences slammed a controversial Cantonese opera performance staged in Guangzhou that was delivered in Putonghua instead of Cantonese.