WKCDA Welcomes LegCo Approval of Funding for the Works of Artist Square Bridge and Integrated Basement

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (the Authority or WKCDA) welcomes the approval by the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today of the funding application for the infrastructure works (including the Artist Square Bridge) for the West Kowloon Cultural District and the remaining works for the District’s Integrated Basement.
 

The Authority would like to express its gratitude to the HKSAR Government, especially the Home Affairs Bureau, for their staunch support for the West Kowloon Cultural District project. 
 

Mr Henry TANG Ying-yen, Chairman of the WKCDA Board, expressed his delight about the funding approval. Mr Tang said, ‘This is a key step for the West Kowloon Cultural District. The construction of the Integrated Basement is the pre-requisite for any topside developments in the remaining sections of the project and the approved funding will make the developments of both cultural and commercial development in this area possible. The commercial development of Hotel/Office/Residential (HOR) buildings, in particular, is key to the long-term sustainability of West Kowloon as this will become an important source of recurrent income for the Authority. Key to this is the Artist Square Bridge, which will make the District more accessible to the nearby transportation hub located at Kowloon Station.’
 

Moving ahead, the Authority will start processing related works of the basement and commence the detailed preparatory work for both the remaining core arts and culture facilities and the HOR development packages. Since West Kowloon is a prized public place, the Authority will continue to seek the views of the public and those of relevant stakeholders on the development of the project as appropriate.
 

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.