West Kowloon chair says cultural hub needs commercial revenue to survive
Daryl Ng, chair of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority board, says the district must become both a cultural and commercial centre, as cultural projects need business income to be sustainable. He notes that completed cultural facilities lack commercial development, causing losses.
The chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority board, Daryl Ng, has said the district will be developed into both a cultural and commercial centre, because cultural projects need financial support to be sustainable and the two must coexist.
In an interview with RTHK's programme Broadcast Way Guest Room, Ng said the authority relies on a commercial model to support cultural development. Over the past period, cultural facilities such as museums and performance venues have been completed, but the commercial parts have not yet been built, resulting in significant revenue losses, which he described as a timing difference.
Ng said that while the district has income from ticket sales and venue rentals, this is far from enough to break even. He pointed out that no cultural facility anywhere in the world can achieve a balanced budget solely through ticket sales, venue rentals and food and beverage operations. Other countries use different subsidy methods, including donations and government subsidies, while Hong Kong relies entirely on commercial subsidies.
The national 15th Five-Year Plan states support for Hong Kong in deepening its role as a centre for cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. Ng said Hong Kong has long been in contact with the West and the international community, and through its curatorial approach, it can make Chinese culture understandable to audiences, including overseas tourists, which is a unique advantage of Hong Kong.