In this increasingly globalised world, the traditional way of operating public venues can no longer cater to the sophisticated, international tastes of Hong Kong audiences and visitors, Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho says. The Government should instead step back and allow private-sector participation, enabling the cultural sector to flourish.

In an article, "West Kowloon Cultural District: Adding value to culture" published in newspapers today, Dr Ho noted commercial and creative industries have long collaborated in Hong Kong's free-market environment, and today, the differences between "profit-making" and "non-profit-making" organisations are hard to distinguish.

"In this environment, it is increasingly difficult for the Government to participate in the management of cultural venues with high commercial viability as 'non-profit-making' ventures. And the Government's involvement in profit-making enterprises has never met the expectations of the public," he wrote.

Clearly, a better option for the West Kowloon Cultural District is to let the private sector participate in the provision and management of cultural facilities under the Government's monitoring.

"With the commercial sector's flexibility and room to manoeuvre, the WKCD can introduce a creative management strategy and draw in management expertise, adding a metropolitan feel to the cultural district. The international managers, working in collaboration with the local cultural sector, will ensure a viable and sustainable centre for arts and culture, while maintaining the district's local flavour," he wrote.

Government should break away from old funding model

It is not the Government's role to fund the development's construction, nor to provide direct financial support or get involved in the management. Its role will be to set up a network of cultural and commercial interests and to develop a promotions strategy.

"The WKCD will see Hong Kong break away from its old practice of providing funding to adopt a new model of arts administration," Dr Ho continued.

The community will take the lead under this new management concept. Arts and culture and commerce and entertainment will peacefully co-exist - to their mutual benefits. The business sector will build a partnership with the cultural sector to promote arts development.

The WKCD will co-ordinate with Hong Kong's other cultural facilities, and exchanges between audience, artists and arts groups in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta will enhance cultural co-operation in the region.

HK must grasp chance to become China's cultural exchange hub

Upon China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, Hong Kong, with its free and open economy and well-developed infrastructure, should grasp the opportunity to become China's cultural exchange hub.

"By bringing in more professional management and corporate participation, pooling cultural programmes and developing an innovative mode of management for its cultural venues, the WKCD will become a meeting point for East and West cultures," Dr Ho wrote.

"This innovative management model will sweep away the outmoded public administration of cultural activities and stimulate the development of our creative industries. It is a model that can spread to other service industries, transforming Hong Kong into a truly global economy."