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Oliver Chou

Smooth progress at the new cultural hub in East Kowloon showed consensus in the public interest could override political differences, the chief secretary said.
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was speaking on Thursday at a ­ceremony to lay the cornerstone of the East Kowloon Cultural ­Centre, a HK$4 billion project due to launch in 2021.
“I visited the Kwun Tong district in May 2013 and asked all the district councillors present at the meeting to name one local project for the government to focus on in deliberation,” she recalled.
“The East Kowloon Cultural Centre was named unanimously, regardless of different political affiliations among the councillors.”
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Later that year the government worked out the resources needed and, in 2015, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved funding for the 2.16-hectare site in the heart of Ngau Tau Kok .
“This experience tells us that so long as all of us act in the public interest, we can work together with one heart despite differences in political views,” she said.
According to a government source, the point about unity for a common cause in Lam’s speech should be read beyond the East Kowloon hub.
“Her speech contains details that are not in the original draft, and I think those are the things she wants to convey to society under the current sentiment, such as the need to put down differences,” the source said.

Artists were generally in favour of the development. “Booking existing venues is as difficult as winning the public housing ­lottery, so the addition of venues is good news for us,” Jo Ngai Yee-shan, executive director of The Nonsensemakers, a theatrical company, said.
Ng Cheuk-yin, a prolific composer and performer, hoped the site “will change the general perception that tends to view only those performed in the City Hall and the Cultural Centre as high quality events”.
The smaller of the five venues at East Kowloon “would be ideal for experimental artists who may not attract a large audience for their new works”, Ng added.
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There will also be a 1,200-seat multi-purpose hall, a 550-seat theatre, and two other smaller halls of 120 to 250 seats for music, drama and dance.
The larger halls will have facilities for those with special needs, a first for the city.
“Both venues have an audio description room for a visually ­impaired audience who can follow the action on stage by listening to a narrator from the control room,” Chris Liu Chi-ho, a senior project manager at the Architectural Services Department, said.
Barrier-free access, based on recommendations from those ­requiring it, could serve as a reference for its counterpart in West Kowloon, he added.


Unity takes centre stage at new Hong Kong cultural hub

Carrie Lam (fourth from left) said consensus over the East Kowloon Cultural Centre showed how political differences could be set aside. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

(L-R)Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah; Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam; Chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council Dr Bunny Chan; and Director of Architectural Services Leung Koon-kee; attend the East Kowloon Cultural Centre Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony at Fuk To Street in Kowloon Bay. 08DEC16 SCMP/ K. Y. Cheng

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City’s No 2 official praises HK$4 billion East Kowloon project due to launch in 2021


Unity takes centre stage at new Hong Kong cultural hub

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City’s No 2 official praises HK$4 billion East Kowloon project due to launch in 2021

City’s No 2 official praises HK$4 billion East Kowloon project due to launch in 2021