Cultural Policy and Funding Support

The Government's cultural policy comprises the following major elements:

• respect freedom of creation and expression;
• provide opportunities for wider participation;
• encourage diversified and balanced development; and
• provide a supportive environment and conditions (venues, funding, education and administration).

This policy is in line with the core values of Hong Kong as a free, diversified and open society. As a facilitator, the Government is committed to upholding the freedom of cultural and artistic creation and expression, as well as providing an environment that supports the development of culture and the arts, both contemporary and traditional.

In the process of formulating and implementing the arts and cultural policy, the Home Affairs Bureau coordinates the work among relevant Bureaux and Departments, maintains close contact with arts groups, and listens to the opinions of various sectors.

The Government will continue to devote resources through a multi-pronged approach (i.e. arts programme development, manpower training, promotion of arts education, and audience building) to further strengthen our cultural software. Our cultural vision for Hong Kong, is to raise our cultural literacy and to develop Hong Kong into an international cultural metropolis. It is our wish to see Hong Kong evolve into a city where life is celebrated through cultural pursuit, where its people find enjoyment in the arts, are enlightened by different cultures and enriched by social diversity.

Government Funding Support to Culture and the Arts

Recurrent Funding, Arts and Sports Development Fund and Cantonese Opera Development Fund

Total: $2.82 billion (excluding the $1.5 billion injection to the Arts and Sports Development Fund (Arts Portion) and the $69 million injection to the Cantonese Opera Development Fund)

In 2011/12, the Government allocates a total of over $2.82 billion (about 1% of the Government's total expenditure) on culture and the arts, excluding capital works expenditure. The resources were mainly deployed for the provision of venue support for arts activities, funding support to arts groups, arts education and promotion, as well as relevant administrative costs.

In addition, following an injection of $1.5 billion to the arts portion of the Arts and Sport Development Fund in 2010/11 as seed money, it is estimated that an annual provision of about $60 million would be available for disbursement.  Out of the $60 million, $30 million are earmarked as an enhanced provision for supporting the small to medium-sized arts groups through the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, and $30 million will be allocated under an Arts Capacity Development Scheme launched in June 2011.   By devising a strategic funding arrangement which constitutes matching elements for promising artists and small to medium-sized arts groups for their arts development (viz. programme / content development, audience building, arts education and manpower development) pursuits, the new scheme seeks to fill the gaps of existing public funding sources and to encourage sponsorship of arts development.

The Government also injected $69 million into the Cantonese Opera Development Fund in 2010/11 to support more projects on the preservation, promotion and development of Cantonese opera.

Funding for the Major Performing Arts Groups

Out of the $2.82 billion recurrent funding for the arts and culture, the Home Affairs Bureau provides regular funding to nine major performing arts groups, namely, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Dance Company, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Hong Kong Ballet, City Contemporary Dance Company, Chung Ying Theatre Company and Zuni Icosahedron, reaching a total of around $264 million in 2011/12. The aim of the subvention is to enable the public to have access to quality performing arts programmes of these groups at affordable prices for the purpose of enriching the cultural life of the community at large.

Capital Funding

The Government also supports the development of the arts and culture in Hong Kong through the construction and operation of various types of cultural venues, including performance venues, public libraries and public museums.

At present, there are 15 performance venues of varying sizes and capacities situated at accessible locations all over the territory. In addition, capital works in progress include the conversion of Yau Ma Tei Theatre and Red Brick Building into a Xiqu Activity Centre (at an estimated cost of $186.7 million) and the construction of Ko Shan Theatre Annex (at an estimated cost of $683.2 million). Moreover, a major performing arts venue in Kwun Tong to serve the East Kowloon region is under planning and the feasibility of the provision of another new performance venue in the New Territories East region is being explored.

The Government also manages 14 public museums, the Hong Kong Film Archive, two heritage centres and the Art Promotion Office. In addition, the Government operates a network of Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) comprising 66 static and 10 mobile libraries. For the enhancement of public library services, works in progress include the reprovisioning of Tin Shui Wai Public Library, Lam Tin Public Library, Pak Tin Public Library and Yuen Long Public Library and the construction of the new Siu Sai Wan Public Library.

The West Kowloon Cultural District

An upfront endowment of $21.6 billion has been granted to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority for the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) project, which is a strategic investment by the Government to meet the long term needs of the arts and cultural sector. The WKCD will be developed into an integrated arts and cultural district with world-class arts and cultural facilities, distinguished talents, iconic architectures, and quality programmes. It will become a cultural hub for attracting and nurturing talents, an impetus to improve quality of life, as well as a cultural gateway to the Pearl River Delta. The arts and cultural facilities in WKCD are expected to be commissioned in phases starting from 2015.