Open mind: Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui says the Government has an open mind on the West Kowloon Cultural District's financing options.

Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui hopes proposals on the setting up of a West Kowloon Cultural District authority and its finances will be tabled at the Legislative Council by the end of this year.

The proposals cover the timing for the authority's establishment, its composition, powers, functions and responsibilities.

Mr Hui said the first meeting of the Consultative Committee on the West Kowloon Cultural District Core Arts & Cultural Facilities went well today.

"What is most gratifying and rewarding for me is that a lot of valuable views have been expressed on the concepts, on the principles, and on all the other complementary issues that we need to address. So it was not just the hardware. We spent more time on software, on policy, on values, and on participation by the community, and that to me is the most valuable part of the meeting," he said.

The committee also decided the general work plan for the next six months. Two specialist groups, one on performance facilities and tourism and the other on museums, will start their first meetings next week.

"These two advisory groups will hold public forums, probably in May - a number of public forums - so that there will be further opportunity for members of the public and for those who are practitioners in performing arts and exhibitions and in culture to put forward their views."

On the project's financing, Mr Hui said the Government has an open mind, adding there will be different options open for discussion and consultation with lawmakers and the community.