The Government is committed to fostering the cultural development of Hong Kong to expedite its progression into an East‑meets‑West centre for international cultural exchange, Chief Executive John Lee said.

Unveiling his 2022 Policy Address today, Mr Lee said the Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism will chair the Culture Commission comprised of industry leaders who will be tasked with mapping out a Blueprint for Arts & Culture & Creative Industries Development and enhancing the ecosystem for the industries.

Given that the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) ranks first in the performing arts category among all higher education institutions in Asia, the Government has asked HKAPA to find ways to nurture arts and cultural talent for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, establish a new campus in the Northern Metropolis and raise the proportion of non-local students.

Moreover, it will launch various arts and cultural internship programmes and subsidise HKAPA students or those studying arts and cultural programmes in universities to undertake internships in arts groups and the WKCD.

At the same time, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will continue to collaborate with the WKCD in grooming more professionals to develop the city into a regional centre for arts conservation and restoration.

The Chief Executive shared that the Government will map out a new 10-year development blueprint for arts and cultural facilities that includes a proposal to increase the number of the LCSD’s museums to 19 and the number of seats at performance venues by about 50%.

To leverage market forces for the development of the arts and cultural sector, the Government will also devise measures to encourage the provision of arts and cultural facilities such as theatres in private developments.

Striving toward its goal of enriching arts, cultural and creative contents, Mr Lee emphasised that Government will establish the Mega Arts & Cultural Events Fund to promote the staging of more international arts and cultural events in Hong Kong.

It will also foster arts and cultural exchanges and collaboration with the Mainland, including organising the Greater Bay Area Culture & Arts Festival in 2024, as well as the annual Hong Kong Week and Chinese Opera Festival.

To promote the city’s pop culture to go global, the Government will strive to expand the industry’s development capacity with three foci on film, TV and streaming platforms.

Stressing that sports development is also key, the Chief Executive revealed plans to further promote spots in the community by working with the sports sector, schools and the business sector.

Moreover, the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau will map out a 10-year development blueprint for sports and recreation facilities, providing about 30 diversified facilities such as sports centres, swimming pools, sports grounds and parks.

The planned facilities include Hong Kong’s second sports park to be developed in Whitehead, Ma On Shan and a large-scale sports and recreation facilities in the Northern Metropolis.

Furthermore, the Government will continue to enhance the professionalism in the sports sector and develop sports as an industry including increasing the arrangement of training and competition venues for qualified sports clubs and supporting local sports clubs in their participation in major sports competitions in the Mainland and the region.

A five‑year pilot programme on career and education for athletes with disabilities will be launched to equip them for post‑retirement development. The Government will also enhance the Hong Kong “M” Mark System to support the hosting of at least 10 major international sports events in Hong Kong annually, with a view to further promoting the city as a centre for mega international sports events.

To add variety to the activity of citizens, Mr Lee said more leisure facilities and projects are in the pipeline.

“I have decided to develop a 'round-the-island trail' of about 60km on Hong Kong Island, connecting the waterfront promenades on the northern shore and a number of existing promenades and countryside walking trails in the Southern District.

“We will carry out studies and design as well as works from next year onward with the target of connecting 90% of the trail within five years.”

Aside from actively studying the development of about 1,000 hectares of the green belt sites in the southern part of Lantau for eco-tourism or recreation, the Government will join hands with local groups to organise weekend bazaars at five regions in the fourth quarter of 2022.

In the Government’s quest to support local tourism, it will continue to promote characteristic local tourism by allocating $600 million for a three-year Cultural & Heritage Sties Local Tour Incentive Scheme.

Such a scheme will encourage the tourism industry to develop products with cultural and heritage elements.

Additionally, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will launch a new round of Spend-to-Redeem local tours and staycation delights with increased quotas to enhance local ambience and consumption.

On top of that, to re-establish Hong Kong’s position as the region’s premier destination for meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), the HKTB will enhance its support for MICE tourism in light of the COVID-19 epidemic development so as to attract more high value-added overnight visitors to the city, Mr Lee added.