The Government established in April 2006 the Consultative Committee on the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities of the West Kowloon Cultural District (Consultative Committee) and its three advisory groups to re-examine the need for the core arts and cultural facilities to be provided in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) and the financial implications for developing and operating those facilities. After deliberating for 15 months in close and intensive consultation with the local arts community and related parties, the Consultative Committee recommended to develop 15 performing arts venues and at least 3 hectares of piazza areas, as well as a cultural institution with museum functions (temporarily called the M+) focusing on 20th to 21st century visual culture, and an Exhibition Centre with focus on arts and culture and creative industry. It also recommended to develop the district as a low-density development with ample open space embracing a vibrant harbourfront for public enjoyment and closely connected with neighbourhood community. To realize the WKCD's vision, the Consultative Committee also recommended that the Government adopt timely measures to enhance the development of cultural software and humanware in Hong Kong.
A three-month Public Engagement Exercise was carried out from mid-September to mid-December 2007 to explain the Consultative Committee's above recommendations to the public and to gauge public views on the WKCD project. The WKCD project is among 10 major infrastructure projects proposed by the Chief Executive in his 2007 Policy Address. The results of the Public Engagement Exercise indicated strong public support for the recommendations of the Consultative Committee and urged for the early implementation of the WKCD project.
Adopting the recommendations of the Consultative Committee, the Government introduced draft legislation into the Legislative Council in February 2008 for setting up a statutory body, the WKCD Authority, to take forward the project. The WKCD Authority Ordinance was enacted by the Legislative Council on 11 July 2008. In parallel, the Legislative Council also approved an upfront endowment of $21.6 billion for the WKCD Authority to develop the WKCD project. The Chief Executive announced on 23 October 2008 the appointment of members to the Board of the WKCD Authority for a period of two years.