HONG KONG SAR, CHINA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Angus Forsyth, Angus Forsyth & Co.
supports many outreach aspects of arts development and assists Hong Kong artists, who have increasingly
the heading of Strategic Direction 1: “Promote Pro - found Traditional Chinese Cultural Contents with Hong Kong Character”. This includes: • diverse arts and culture industries in Hong Kong with an international perspective; • the establishment of international platforms to fos - ter “East meets West” arts and culture exchanges; and • the enhancement of the ecosystem for the arts, culture and creative industries. In the same paper, the government confirmed its intent to collaborate with major strategic partners, stakeholders from different industries, and the local arts and cultural community, as recognised through the entry into Hong Kong of major international arts exhibition initiatives such as the Swiss-based “Art Basel” art fair, which now occurs on an annual basis. Hong Kong as an East/West centre The consequence of all this development is to position Hong Kong as an East/West centre in Asia, unique for the high-quality range of its museums, performing arts activities and venues, with consequent mass visitor appeal for foreign tourists. This includes broad growth in tourism from Mainland China, with its enormous population of increasingly leisure-driven and educated people actively pursuing all these opportunities. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism put together a decisive action team to identify all related aspects of the arts that the government could further assist in developing – particularly in the interest of attracting revenue-raising activities, as the successful sales of Hong Kong land are dropping to levels below serious annual income.
benefitted from its activity. International considerations
Overseas cultural organisations such as major muse - ums in the United States, France, the United King - dom, Italy and other territories with huge storage of traditional cultural artefacts in their particular territo - ries increasingly began to lend major exhibitions of their significant artworks to public gallery establish - ments in Hong Kong, which proved hugely popular. Ever mindful of the need for the safe custody of art - work, the Hong Kong International Airport developed a substantial number of buildings devoted to the arts, including the performing arts and some art gallery space. However, an important additional function of this new development at the Hong Kong International Airport is the construction of a precious metals stor - age and safe custody facility. Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development In November 2024, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgated the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, which sets out the comprehensive policy of the Hong Kong government. The Blueprint set out a clear vision with supporting principles and strategic directions to foster the future development of culture in Hong Kong, and at the same time supporting, nurturing and cementing the basic interest of Hong Kong people in their own creative development in all forms of the arts. The strategic directions of the Blueprint can be summarised under
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