West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s Board Meeting Held Today

The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) held its 64th meeting today.

WKCDA’s Chief Executive Officer Duncan Pescod reported that, moving towards the final quarter of 2017, WKCDA continues to make satisfactory progress in all aspects of design and construction of every active projects. The first Statutory Inspections of the Xiqu Centre will commence in October this year, which will lead to the granting of the Occupation Permit. The Centre’s planned opening in the fourth quarter of 2018 remains on schedule.

The M+ Main Works is progressing in full swing. The construction and load transfer of the mega trusses is now completed, achieving a key milestone in the development of the project. Works of the superstructure, in particular the tower, can now ramping up safely. On the Lyric Theatre Complex and Extended Basement project, the tenders for the next stage excavation works have been assessed. Upon approval of funding application by the Legislative Council, WKCDA will award the basement construction works contract and push ahead with the tendering of the main works contract.

Apart from construction activities on site, members were briefed that M+ continued its annual youth-targeted initiative, M+ Summer Camp, between 13 and 16 August 2017.  The camp brought together around 100 secondary students. Under the theme ‘Nerve’, the students were encouraged to open up to the world in new ways and use all their senses to respond to and engage with their surroundings. The camp also engaged eight artists/designers/architects as instructors, one singer and two art groups as guest performers, and 19 university students as volunteers.

While for performing arts, the debut Experimental Chinese Opera Series was held from 6 to 13 September at HKRep Black Box. Four Chinese opera pieces -- the newly-adapted Farewell My Concubine, Kong Yiji, Chun Shuidu and Zhu Wen (The Only Extant Version) were staged. Mr Pescod also reported that the new season of Freespace Happening returned to the Nursery Park, featuring an array of programmes including music, literature, dance, handicraft market and creative workshops. The event in September was attended by around 10,000 visitors. The next Freespace Happening event will be held on 8 October.

Mr Pescod also reported to Members on the medical emergencies that occurred during the Road to Ultra (RTU) organised by an outside hirer on last Saturday.  Members expressed their deepest condolence to the family of the deceased and wished those who remain in hospital a rapid recovery.  The Board also tasked Management to review the procedures of venue hire to ensure that all users of the facilities within the West Kowloon Cultural District can do so safely at all times.

Remarks

About West Kowloon Cultural District
Located on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest cultural projects in the world. The vision of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong. With a complex of theatres, performance spaces and M+, West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances and cultural events, as well as provide 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.