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1. Project an ill-fated hybrid of Harbour Fest and Cyberport, says critic

2. Government spineless, architects' group says

3. Mainland support for cultural hub

1. Project an ill-fated hybrid of Harbour Fest and Cyberport, says critic
AGNES LAM, SCMP 15 November 2004

The West Kowloon cultural district project will be a hybrid of the ill-fated Harbour Fest and Cyberport, a social commentator said yesterday.

Speaking at RTHK's City Forum, Mathias Woo Yan-wai accused the government of repeating its mistakes by inviting property developers to lead a cultural project.

"The government is committing the same mistake again. It invited the wrong department [InvestHK] to host Harbour Fest, and it invited the wrong party to conduct management of the Cyberport.

"The two projects have failed totally, and the cultural hub is even worse. It is a hybrid of the Harbour Fest and Cyberport," said the director and scriptwriter.

Mike Rowse, director of InvestHK, was strongly criticised for failing to monitor the American Chamber of Commerce's organising of Harbour Fest, a series of pop concerts staged last year which cost taxpayers $100 million.

Disciplinary proceedings have been launched against Mr Rowse in connection with the fiasco.

On Cyberport, the government was criticised for failing to create a level playing field to encourage fair competition, and giving a giant property developer preferential treatment. The project was awarded in 1999 without tender to Pacific Century CyberWorks, chaired by Richard Li Tzar-kai - son of tycoon Li Ka-shing.

Mr Woo also criticised the government's assessment of the project bidders, which ignored opinions from the cultural industry.

Under the government plan, the successful bidders will manage the site for 30 years.

He also urged Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen not to lose his temper so easily when meeting experts from the cultural field. He said Mr Tsang had lost his temper during a meeting with representatives from the local cultural sector.

Vincent Ng Wing-shun, who chairs the planning and lands committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, said the cultural district development was in fact a property project.

"The property developers are trying to wed someone from the cultural industry, so that they can have a meal ticket which allows them to turn the land into residential use and make money," he said.

2. Government spineless, architects' group says
CHLOE LAI, SCMP 15 November 2004

An architects' group has threatened to take radical action if the government continues to put essential projects on hold in the face of anti-development sentiment.

The Association of Architectural Practices also said it would draw the attention of Beijing to the plight of the profession.

Association chairman Dennis Lau Wing-kwong said the government was being unhelpful to the business and warned Hong Kong was going in the wrong direction.

In a recent survey by the association - which has a membership of more than 60 architectural firms - some 82 per cent of members said government support was insufficient and that they were unhappy with the administration.

Mr Lau said: "A strong anti-development sentiment is prevailing. Our government is simply too weak to stand firm against opposition. It backs down every time a few legislators or some green groups disagree with it."

Mr Lau cited four examples where development had been stalled: the Hunghom Peninsula row, the Central Police Station site, Hopewell Holding's Mega Tower project in Wan Chai and a Sun Hung Kai Properties development in Ap Lei Chau.

Sun Hung Kai wants to buy a Shell depot in Ap Lei Chau for property development, but the deal faces strong opposition from residents.

"The business community is very unhappy with how the government is handling these four projects," Mr Lau, chairman and managing director of architect firm Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man, said.

"The government is forcing us to taking radical action if we also want our voices be heard."

He said they were planning to take matters into their own hands along with other professional groups, but refused to disclose details.

3. Mainland support for cultural hub
CARRIE CHAN, SCMP 15 November 2004

Mainland museums and cultural institutions would be encouraged to support the West Kowloon project, the minister of culture said yesterday.

Sun Jiazheng , who arrived in Hong Kong yesterday for tomorrow's Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2004, also said the mainland could benefit from the management and marketing experience of Hong Kong and Macau.

Mr Sun is leading a delegation of cultural policy officials from more than 20 provinces to Hong Kong.

Apart from meeting local officials and arts groups yesterday, the delegation will also have a closed-door meeting with officials from eight Asian countries on regional cultural co-operation today.

Mr Sun said he had kept track of the development of the West Kowloon cultural hub. "Mainland museums and cultural institutions would support this project, another symbol of Chinese culture," he said.

Mr Sun said the mainland was just as willing to invest heavily in cultural facilities.

"Some of the projects [implemented] include the National Museum and the National Grand Theatre in Beijing. About 9 billion yuan has been spent [on these facilities] since 1998," he said.

Mr Sun said their approach was to be market-oriented and encourage private investment in cultural facilities.

The mainland would also step up its cultural promotion worldwide through programmes such as the Year of China in France.

"Foreigners have often equalised Hong Kong culture with Chinese culture because they learnt it through Hong Kong cinema. We have to let foreigners know what Chinese people are thinking," he said.

The chairman of the Arts Development Council, Darwin Chen Tat-man, said he had discussed the West Kowloon project with Mr Sun, adding that more exhibitions on Chinese culture could lure mainland tourists to Hong Kong.

"Now, a lot of mainland artists want to exhibit in Hong Kong but they have to wait two to three years because our facilities are limited. More Chinese shows can also offer night entertainment for tourists."

He also suggested that a Hong Kong Cultural Week be organised at least once a year in a mainland city. The event, which showcases local arts and culture, was first held in Shanghai earlier this year.

The three-day Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum at the Academy for Performing Arts is being organised by the Home Affairs Bureau for the second year. The goal is to encourage cultural exchanges among Asian countries.