31 March, 2010
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority today (31 March, Wednesday) released the Report on the Analysis of Views for the Stage 1 Public Engagement (PE) Exercise for the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), which encapsulates the views, expectations and aspirations of the public as well as stakeholders in the arts and cultural and other relevant sectors for the planning of the District.
Compiled by the Public Policy Research Institute of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the report will be discussed by the Authority’s Consultation Panel on 7 April and deliberated by its Board.
The Stage 1 PE exercise was conducted to solicit public views on the planning of WKCD as well as the views of stakeholder groups on user requirements for the Core Arts and Culture Facilities. In addition, public views were solicited on their aspirations on WKCD’s cultural software development, including the provision of programmes and education- related activities.
A total of 66 public engagement events were organised by the Authority, comprising one Student Forum, one Youth Forum, three Public Forums and 61 Focus Group Meetings. During the exercise, a total of 7,412 documents, including 6,688 completed questionnaires, were analysed.
Chief Secretary Mr. Henry Tang, Chairman of the Board of WKCDA, was encouraged by the large number of views received during the Stage 1 PE exercise, which reflects the public’s keen interest in the WKCD project. “I would like to thank the Chairman of the Consultation Panel, Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, for his hard work in leading the Consultation Panel to oversee the Stage 1 PE exercise to ensure that the exercise was as open, transparent and comprehensive as possible,” said Mr. Tang.
“I would also like to thank everybody who has expressed views on the project. The Conceptual Plan Consultant will take into account the views expressed in preparing the Conceptual Plan Options,” added Mr. Tang.
Referring to the report, Professor Stephen Cheung noted that there is agreement from the public and stakeholders that equal focus should be placed on both hardware and software development.
“Elsewhere, we have seen strong alignment between the views collected and the seven Planning Design Principles that the Authority has set for the District. Respondents indicated their preference for the District to grow organically, and that programmes for various segments of the community be developed,” Professor Cheung said.
The seven Planning Design Principles adopted by the Authority are Creativity, Accessibility, Connectivity, Integration, Vibrancy, Uniqueness and Sustainability.
Those who participated in the PE exercise, conducted between 8 October 2009 and 7 January 2010, commented most frequently about the ambience of the WKCD, the programme and education-related activities to be provided at the District, the overall look of the WKCD, and the facilities and activities of the District.
According to the Report, the top five themes that were given the most attention by respondents were, in descending order:
l “Ambience”
- Respondents favour “artistic/ cultural feel”, “relaxing” and “inspiring” as attributes for the ambience of the District.
l “Programmes, Education-related Activities, and Other Software Issues”
- A wide range of views were received, including the importance of nurturing local talent; developing audience-building programmes, in particular for students.; and collaborating with existing cultural centres and schools in Hong Kong and elsewhere .
- There are views suggesting that opening hours, fees, booking system and hiring charges of venues should be flexible.
l “Overall Look”
- Respondents prefer the District to showcase Hong Kong’s unique local and traditional characteristics, and to have a green setting.
l “Facilities and Activities”
- The mega-performance venue, theatres, the museum and concert halls are the top four facilities that local residents would likely patronise at the WKCD.
- As for tourists, the facilities that they are most likely to visit are the museum, concert halls, theatres and the exhibition centre.
- Views on other facilities are diversified and there are no predominant views. They are about general ancillary facilities, literature museum, learning-related/education facilities, facilities for persons with disabilities, library or resources centre, etc.
l “Planning Design Principles”
- There is a clear preference for the principle of sustainability. This concerns views about avoidance of wall effect caused by buildings, greater use of greenery, building materials, renewable energy sources, natural ventilation, centralized water cooling system, electric transportation mode, low carbon emission in WKCD, etc.
- On creativity, there are views that the design of the venues and facilities should be innovative and there should be more flexibility in design.
- On connectivity, it is suggested that the WKCD should be integrated with neighbouring areas such as tourist areas and cultural venues in Yau Tsim Mong, as well as the communities in Sham Shui Po, Tai Kok Tsui and Cheung Sha Wan.
- On integration, there are comments that the WKCD should integrate different cultures and various social groups.
“As the Authority and its three Conceptual Plan Consultants move forward, these findings will provide very useful guidance on the aspiration and preferences of stakeholders and the public as to how they would like the WKCD planned and designed,” said Professor Cheung.
“I would like to thank all stakeholders from all sectors for contributing their valuable views during the public engagement exercise. For members of the arts and cultural sector, their elaborated input on user requirements will be very useful for the Authority and consultants to prepare the preliminary Schedules of Accommodation for the Core Arts and Cultural Facilities. I would also like to convey my deepest gratitude for persons with disabilities who participated actively in our Focus Group meetings and gave us insightful advice on how to plan the District to meet their needs,” continued Professor Cheung.
The Conceptual Plan Consultants will be required to produce a statement on how public views have been taken into account during the development of their Conceptual Plan Options, which will be presented to the public during Stage 2 of the PE exercise to be launched in the second half of 2010.
Professor Cheung said that the Consultation Panel was encouraged by the response and it would continue to engage the public and stakeholders during Stage 2 and beyond to ensure that the planning and design of the WKCD meet its vision and the public’s aspirations.
The report as well as a compendium containing all views received and analysed during Stage 1 of the PE, has been uploaded to the Authority’s web site (www.wkcda.hk). They are also available for public inspection at the WKCDA Secretariat at 98 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay. A copy of the report has also been placed at District Offices’ Public Enquiry Service Centre for public inspection.
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