West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District is a proposed district of concentration for arts, cultural and entertainment establishments in Hong Kong, SAR. It is an ambitious and extravagant project led by several major developers, costing 25 billion dollars, to transform a piece of barren, waterfront reclaimed land, west of Yau Ma Tei into a futuristic artificial canopy. Currently in the public consultation stage, construction is planned in 2007 and expected to be operational in 2011.

The project hopes to reaffirm Hong Kong's position as "Asia's World City", attracting tourists and foreign investments. However, there is currently a debate on whether the expensive WKCD project is in Hong Kong's best interests.

Introduction

Origin

In 1996, the Hong Kong Tourism Board took a survey of tourists visiting Hong Kong. The survey suggested that many of the tourists thought Hong Kong was lacking in cultural opportunities. The Hong Kong Tourism Board made a suggestion to Legco in 1998, proposing that new venues for art exhibitions and other cultural events be established. In the Chief Executive's Policy Address of 1998, Tung Chee Hwa proposed the establishment of the West Kowloon Cultural District, hoping to develop Hong Kong as the Culture and Art Center of Asia.

Location

The development site is bounded by Canton Road in the east, the Western Harbour Crossing entrance and Austin Road West in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the west and south.

Core facilities

Three theatres with at least 2,000, 800 and 400 seats respectively;

A performance venue with at least 10,000 seats;

A cluster of four museums at least 75,000 square metres in size;

An art exhibition centre at least 10,000 square metres in size; A water amphitheatre;

At least four piazzas; A canopy covering at least 55% of the development area.

Process

Debate

New events

The future of the massive West Kowloon arts hub plan is uncertain after the shortlisted developers balked and the government announced a fundamental rethink of the project.

Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan said the much-criticised giant canopy - centrepiece of the winning design by architect Lord Foster - would be scrapped.

ee also

* Kowloon
* Cyberport
* HKSAR

External links

* [http://www.hplb.gov.hk/wkcd/ WKCD Public Consultation]
* [http://www.westkowloon.hk The West Kowloon Cultural Village website]
* [http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/050914/features/html/050914en06002.htm Temporary waterfront promenade]