Former Hong Kong British Army barracks to be used to put Chinese culture on parade
- One-time British Army block at Whitfield Barracks to become centre to promote Chinese culture, history and achievements
- New Chinese Culture Promotion Office will also be up and running by next month, with cultural festival scheduled for later this year
A piece of Hong Kong’s colonial military history will get a new lease on life as an activity centre designed to promote Chinese culture.
Part of the former British Army Whitfield Barracks in Tsim Sha Tsui will be repurposed as part of a wider campaign to boost the public’s knowledge of the nation.
A new Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO) will also get its formal launch next month to lead activities, including the first of what will be an annual Chinese Culture Festival this year, in a bid to boost the city’s “cultural confidence and sense of nationhood and national identity”.
The proposals were outlined in a paper prepared by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, scheduled to be discussed at next Tuesday’s meeting of the Legislative Council’s home affairs, culture and sports panel.
The paper said it was planned to “revitalise and reuse Block 58 of the former Whitfield Barracks in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, and build a new annex and related facilities in the vicinity to set up a Chinese Culture Experience Centre”.