The consultation on the West Kowloon Cultural District development and the exhibition on the screened-in proposals will be extended to June 30, Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Michael Suen says.

Mr Suen told lawmakers today the move is in response to the Legislative Council request and having reviewed the progress made in the public consultation exercise.

He said the development will be guided by cultural policy objectives such as 'people-based', 'community-led' and 'partnership'. It will integrate commercial and residential development into the arts, cultural and leisure facilities, and the land will be put into the best use.

Proving popular

More than 125,300 people have visited the exhibition since it opened on December 16, and more than 20,070 comment cards and 260 written submissions have been received.

The exhibition is being held at the City Hall until March 28. It will then be moved to the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin on April 16 until June 30. Visitors are urged to answer the questions on the comment card and drop it into the collection box before leaving the exhibition venue.

People can submit views online at www.hplb.gov.hk/wkcd, faxing 2186 7832, emailing wkcd@cedd.gov.hk. The submission deadline June 30.

Meanwhile, an independent academic research institute has been commissioned to conduct telephone polls and analyse and assess views collected.