The chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District, Henry Tang Ying-yen, stated that the museums or Xiqu Center in the district may need to close for a few more days to save costs if the government does not approve a proposal to revamp the district's finances.
Speaking on a radio program on Saturday, Tang said the government has completed an independent report to assess the district's finances. Still, the board has not yet received an official response. If the reaction is delayed, the board will have to make major operational changes, like closing the museums for more days, in order to cut costs. Tang questioned if this would be fair to the public.
The board's concerns have grown as the HK$21.6 billion in funding allocated by the Legislative Council in 2008 is set to be exhausted by next March. Therefore, the board submitted a proposal last year suggesting the sale of residential property rights.
Tang said the remaining funding comes from short-term loans, and if the authorities reject the proposal, the board may face loan calls from banks. While the funding can keep the district operational for about a year, Tang hopes this crisis can be resolved without public funding.
Tang recalled predicting that the capital chain would break when he became board chairman. He noted that the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ Museum have attracted around 2.4 million and 5 million visitors since opening. Tang does not want the operations to halt when the museums perform well suddenly, and the board will cooperate fully with the government.
Tang also acknowledged that the district's subpar performance affects Hong Kong's goal, outlined in China's 14th Five-Year Plan, of becoming a center for exchanging Chinese and Western arts and cultures.
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