The 98th Board Meeting of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA or the Authority) held its 98th meeting today. At the meeting, Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the WKCDA Board, reported on recent progress in different areas of the West Kowloon Cultural District (the District).

Mr Tang first reported that the construction works of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) are progressing smoothly. Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) and fire services equipment installation have been substantially completed, and entered the final stage of testing and commissioning. The statutory inspection has started in mid-May 2021, with the target to obtain Occupation Permit in the third quarter of 2021 and achieve Practical Completion by the end of 2021.

In addition, the stakeholder engagement activities organised by HKPM since December last year have completed. More than 1,000 people participated in 11 consultation sessions. The museum received various expectations and opinions on its future works, which are valuable references for programme planning and service provision. HKPM will organise more public engagement activities, including screenings, before the opening of the museum in mid-2022, so as to strengthen the connection with the community and the public.

HKPM also organised the online Palace Museum Culture Lecture Series which features leading experts from the Palace Museums in Beijing, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Joined by more than 1,300 audiences, the first three lectures were held from April to June this year, featuring Ms Ren Wanping, Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, Beijing, Mr Ho Chuan-hsing, Former Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, Taipei, and Dr Daisy Yiyou Wang, Deputy Director of HKPM respectively. The lecture series demonstrates HKPM’s vision to foster cultural exchanges among the three museums.

Mr Tang also reported that the Certificate of Practical Completion was issued to M+ in February 2021. Preparation works, including artworks installation in the exhibition halls and the interior finishing of retail stores, are in progress to welcome the opening of M+ at the end of 2021.

The M+ team is setting up for the opening exhibitions. At the same time, the museum is also recruiting and training a group of M+ Docents who will perform the role of M+ ambassadors to introduce the exhibitions to audiences.

M+ Rover is parking at the waterfront promenade near the M+ building in the Art Park. Public exhibitions and live demonstrations will be held on weekends and public holidays from June to July 2021. Details are available on the M+ website.

The District presented the 2021-2022 Performing Arts Season, bringing audiences with various programmes and cultural activities such as dance, xiqu, performing arts venues, music and more at various theatres and outdoor areas of the District. Highlights from June to July 2021 include Choreographer and Composer Lab 2021: Works-in-Development Showcase; the interactive art installation Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No. 2 by William Forsythe, the most influential contemporary dancer and choreographer; and the ‘holiday-themed’ Summer Holiday: Hong Kong World Champs.

Freespace’s creative research platform Choreographer and Composer Lab has brought different choreographers and composers together to experiment with new collaborations over the years. The two groups of this year’s artists are: choreographer Mao Wei, trained in Chinese dance and contemporary dance, and street musician Hakgwai, who specialises in indigenous instruments; and contemporary dance artist/photographer Terry Tsang King-fai with the musician pair – bassist Jonathan Yang and lead singer Laujan from local band David Boring. Audiences can witness the composition and development of their new music and dance in Choreographer and Composer Lab 2021: Works-in-Development Showcase from 26 to 27 June 2021.

Rolex Presents: William Forsythe’s Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No. 2 has been exhibited in the Tate Modern in London and the Venice Biennale. It will come to Asia for the first time this July, landing in The Box at Freespace. Stepping into the art installation, audiences can walk through hundreds of pendulums that swing and sweep according to set patterns at their own pace, and from each turn, they can explore their body movements and create the dance. In addition to participating in the interaction with the pendulums, audiences can also stay aside and watch the rhythm and changes of the overall swing of the artwork. The programme will be accompanied by three Forsythe’s dance films. Tickets are now on sale.

On the weekend of 10 and 11 July 2021, Summer Holiday: Hong Kong World Champs will bring audiences with the native Hong Kong top players in yoyo, kendama, jump rope and more to perform at Freespace and the Art Park.

From 1 June to 21 June 2021, a 20% early bird discount will be offered to ticket purchase for the designated programmes of the Performing Arts Season. Please visit the West Kowloon Cultural District website to learn more about programmes and ticketing details.

Following the overwhelming response to the first Giant Steps – Jazz Rhythms for Kids last year, Giant Steps 2.0 – Jazz Rhythms for Kids led by experienced jazz musicians and tap dancers will be held in July 2021. Through game playing, children and parents can taste the three fundamental elements of jazz – rhythm, call-and-response and improvisation. Available in Cantonese and English sessions, the workshop is ideal for primary school students and their parents.

All the staff members of the Authority have moved into the WKCDA Tower in May 2021. On construction projects, site area of the L1 Project is progressively handed over to the L2 Project, and the preparatory works for the related MEP and Architectural Builders Works and Finishes are in progress. The L2 building works are being constructed up to the B1 basement mezzanine level.

As for the Integrated Basement (IB) in Zone 2A, the pre-drilling and ground investigation field works have been completed. The pre-excavation works include tubular piles and grouting, socketed steel H-piles and large diameter bored piles, as well as the alterations works on the top of the High Speed Rail station structure are in progress.

The Authority is in the process of finalising the documents for the foundation works contract for the IB in Zones 2B and 2C and Underground Road. The works is expected to be completed in approximately 26 months after the contract is awarded. Besides, the Authority is about to award the consultancy contract for the detailed design of the IB in Zones 2B and 2C and Underground Road.

On construction of the Artist Square Bridge (ASB), the elevator installation project in the lift tower is in progress. The main bridge structure has been delivered from Mainland China to the site for assembly. In anticipation of the M+ opening, the ASB is set to complete ahead of schedule by the end of 2021.

Remarks

About the West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on forty hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances and cultural events, providing twenty-three hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.