Funding cut for Hong Kong’s top theatre awards to ‘minimise’ risk of national security law breach, Arts Development Council head says

Arts Development Council chairman Kenneth Fok says ‘several causes’ behind move to deduct part of HK$441,700 grant for ceremony held last June

Council issues statement detailing its exchanges with awards organiser and explains instances of ‘inappropriate content’ during ceremony

3-MIN READ3-MIN

The 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards ceremony in June last year. Organiser says funds for this year’s edition have been denied completely. Photo: Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies

Published: 3:56pm, 18 Jan 2024Updated: 11:18pm, 18 Jan 2024

A decision to cut part of a grant for Hong Kong’s top theatre awards was made to “minimise” the risk of breaking the national security law, said the head of the city’s arts funding body, which revealed later on Thursday that ceremony hosts’ political references to “red lines” and “red bridges” had caused concern.

Arts Development Council chairman Kenneth Fok Kai-kong said “several causes” were behind the move to deduct part of the HK$441,700 (US$56,460) grant for the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards ceremony held last June.

“[It’s about] whether we can minimise our risks involving potential violations of the law, or even the national security law, when the Arts Development Council allocates sources,” he said.

With awards organiser the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies set to hold a press conference on Friday morning, the council issued a statement detailing its exchanges with the group and explained instances of “inappropriate content” during the ceremony.

“The federation did not take the initiative to discuss with the council how they planned to deviate from previous practices, such as adding a theme for the ceremony and inviting award presenters from outside the arts and culture industry,” the council said.

In a letter dated January 12, the council said the federation chose to invite journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling and political cartoonist Wong Kei-kwan, who uses the pen name Zunzi, effectively moving away from its previous practice of inviting industry veterans.

The council also accused the organiser of “generating buzz” to “draw attention from the public and the media” by including puns related to “red bridges” and “red lines” in the hosts’ scripts, which “implied a hidden meaning”.