WKCDA Board member and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee Mr. Sin Chung-kai is always known to be tech-savvy. In this issue, he tells us why he joined the WKCDA and what role would technology play in the future arts hub.

Q: What was your first encounter of arts and culture?

A: I personally like cultural activities more than arts. I like history, astronomy, geography and Chinese chess. I used to play Chinese chess with the elderly in Kwai Chung Estate, where I grew up as a child. I also participated in the Christmas Eve drama in the community centre and later on some other dramas in secondary school and university. The only award I got for arts-related activities was a recital competition in my primary school days.

Q: What happened after you joined the Board of the WKCD Authority?

A: To get to know more about the subject, I have visited quite a number of places in recent years including Guangdong Shiwan Ceramics Museum, Shenzhen Da Fen Oil Painting Village, Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, Music Hall, Meilanfang Grand Theater and 798 Art Zone. I loved visiting science museum when my boys were young and we could spend the whole day there. Watching musicals is a must every time we go to London because my wife is a musical lover. Ialso went to museums that people usually visit when they travel to Europe but I’m definitely not a fan.

Q: Why did you join the Authority?

A: Arts and culture can enhance our quality of life and it is the best way to balance our hectic and long-hour work. When Henry Tang invited me to join the Board three years ago, I immediately said yes despite my many public duties because I believe arts and culture should be systematically developed in a free and modernised city like Hong Kong, where the east meets west. The pluralistic nature suits best for both tourists and the local citizens.

Q: Do you often attend arts and cultural programmes?

A: I watch one or two shows during the Hong Kong Arts Festival every year. I showed my support for (Yip) Wing-sie in her Hong Kong Sinfonietta early this year while Chung Ying Theatre sometimes invites me to their shows too. I’d say five to six different kinds of arts and cultural programmes are on my calendar every year.

Q: Do you like watching movies?

A: I love watching all kinds of movies but I watch much less in recent years, and now I mainly do it on the plane. Recently, I became addicted to the DVD of the Mainland Chinese TV series “The Three Kingdoms”.

Q: Do you collect art pieces?

A: I don’t, but I’d buy some ceramics and oil paintings for my friends, especially foreigners, from the Shiwan Ceramics Museum or Da Fen Oil Painting Village. They like it a lot.

Q: Are you more interested in digital art?

A: That is definitely my area of interests, but not limited to digital art. Digital art is a front end user, and it needs to be powered by the backend technology. Our Development Committee has just established an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Subcommittee to focus on three layers. The bottom layer is the technological infrastructure. Then it is the retailing layer like ticketing and website. The top layer belongs to the technology application in performing arts or museums such as virtual backdrop. Although we have just started, we have a clear direction and we hope to hear more views on technology application in WKCD in the Stage 3 Public Engagement Exercise.

Q: Do you think that is an important area?