21 September, 2009

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority To Launch Stage 1 Public Engagement Exercise on 8 October

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority ("the Authority") will roll out Stage 1 of its Public Engagement exercise (PE exercise) for the preparation of the Development Plan of the West Kowloon Cultural District ("WKCD") on 8 October 2009. Through the exercise, the Authority aims to gauge the public's expectations for the WKCD and the views of various stakeholder groups on their requirements for facilities in the arts and cultural venues in WKCD.

Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, Chairman of the Consultation Panel of the Authority, and the Honourable Ronald Arculli, Chairman of the Development Committee of the Authority, today (21 September) announced that Stage 1 of the PE exercise would commence on 8 October and last for 3 months until 7 January 2010.

"The Authority is excited to see the roll-out of the public engagement exercise. 'Stretch your imagination. Share your dream. Create a successful West Kowloon Cultural District for all !' This is the slogan for the PE exercise. The WKCD is for everyone in Hong Kong. I would like to appeal to the public to actively express their views on the creation of a WKCD for the people of Hong Kong," said Professor Cheung.

A consultation leaflet and a questionnaire will be posted on the Authority's web site (www.wkcda.hk) on 8 October. Copies will be distributed to the public in various locations including the arts and cultural venues operated by Leisure and Cultural Services Department throughout Hong Kong, district offices and public housing estates. Completed questionnaires can be sent to the Authority on-line, by mail or by fax. The public can also complete the questionnaire on-line. Apart from completing the questionnaire, the public are welcome to send in their views to the Authority by email, fax or mail. Face-to-face interviews with tourists and the wider public to gauge their views on the planning of WKCD will also be conducted.

To hear public views direct, three public forums will be organised on 25 October, 8 November and 6 December, all Sundays, respectively. From tomorrow (22 September, Tuesday), members of the public may register on-line on the Authority's web site (www.wkcda.hk) or call 2501 7920 to register to take part in these public forums.

"Other than the three public forums, the Authority is organising two special forums for students and youths respectively for them to express their views on the WKCD, and more than 50 focus group meetings for over 20 stakeholder groups to express their views on the requirements for the facilities in the arts and cultural venues. The first forum, for students, will be held on 8 October at the Youth Square in Chai Wan. There will be performances with features of 'East meets West' to enliven the events," Professor Cheung continued.

The event calendar for the PE exercise will be available on the Authority's web site from tomorrow (22 September). The Authority will send out invitation letters to concerned stakeholder groups for the focus group meetings. The focus group meetings are also open to the public. Anybody interested in listening to these meetings may call a dedicated telephone line to reserve a seat. To make the PE exercise open and transparent, audio recording of the proceedings of the forums and meetings will be uploaded to the Authority's website.

"The three Conceptual Plan Consultants and the Project Consultant commissioned by the Authority will attend the forums and meetings to listen to the public's expectations for the WKCD and stakeholders' requirements for the facilities in the arts and cultural venues," said the Honourable Ronald Arculli.

"Based on the views received through this stage of the PE exercise, each of the three Conceptual Plan Consultants will develop a Conceptual Plan option. The three options will be presented to the public during Stage 2 of the PE exercise, to be conducted in the first half of 2010. Taking into account views collected at that stage, the Authority will select one option as the foundation for preparing the Development Plan of the WKCD. Therefore, the views gathered at Stage 1 of PE are very important to the formulation of the Conceptual Plans as well as the Development Plan," added Mr Arculli.

A special poster publicising the PE exercise has been designed by renowned local artist Mr Stanley Wong who developed his ideas from the current state of play of the WKCD project.

"The WKCD is still in the planning stage. It does not have a physical form yet. At present, what can be seen at the WKCD site is the big orange sign "West Kowloon Cultural District" in English. How it will look like is up to our imagination and participation. The WKCD will eventually become a vibrant centre point of Hong Kong's arts and culture. That is why I have chosen orange as the theme colour of the poster and use sketch drawings," Mr Stanley Wong elaborated his ideas.

A comprehensive publicity programme, including poster publicity in schools and community centres, media advertisements, TV and radio announcements, etc. will be rolled out tomorrow to encourage the public to actively take part in the public engagement activities and voice their views.

 
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung (left), Chairman of the Consultation Panel of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, and the Honourable Ronald Arculli (centre), Chairman of the Development Committee of the Authority, with Mr. Stanley Wong (right), renowned artist, after unveiling the poster publicising the Stage 1 Public Engagement exercise for the West Kowloon Cultural District. The poster was designed by Mr. Stanley Wong.   Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung (second left, back row), Chairman of the Consultation Panel of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, and the Honourable Ronald Arculli (first left, back row), Chairman of the Development Committee of the Authority, with six Arts Ambassadors from different primary schools at the media briefing.

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