HK Policy Address 2024: Minister pledges to complete delayed culture blueprint after being singled out by leader
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s culture minister has pledged to complete a delayed blueprint for the city’s art and creative industries after being singled out in Chief Executive John Lee’s third Policy Address.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung on Friday also dismissed claims of tension between himself and the chief executive, saying he did not notice being directly named by Lee other than during Wednesday’s speech at the legislature.
In an annex of the Policy Address that was not read out on Wednesday, Lee said there were six policy goals among 150 outlined in the previous policy blueprint that were falling behind schedule. Those goals, including the promotion of waste reduction and the enhancement of the city’s pension MPF system, had “reasonable causes” for delay, Lee said.
But he went on to single out the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) for failing to release the “Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development,” adding that he had instructed Yeung to complete the task “as soon as possible.”
“Despite the fact that the CSTB was only established at the start of the current-term government and is tasked with a diverse portfolio and a heavy workload, it must fulfil public aspirations by delivering results as targeted,” Lee said. The CSTB was established in 2022 when Lee took office.
In response, Yeung wrote on social media on Thursday that he would release the blueprint within this year.
Do not ‘overthink’
During a press conference on Friday, Yeung said his bureau had worked on multiple government initiatives after the pandemic, including a drive to attract mega events to be held in the city, despite the delayed blueprint.
He added that the bureau had to consider “new developments” in society and diverse opinions in the art and culture sectors when developing the policy plan, which had led to the delay.
The bureau will release the blueprint alongside plans for developing cruise tourism for the sake of being “holistic,” he said in Cantonese.
Yeung also denied any contradiction between himself and the chief executive, saying people should not “overthink” Lee’s remarks about the bureau’s work.
Lee on Thursday attended a session at the city’s legislature during which he answered lawmakers’ questions about the Policy Address. When asked about policy related to tourism, Lee said each bureau “should not forget its own responsibility” even though the government had set up cross-bureau working groups on certain issues.
A working group on developing “tourist hotspots” should complement the CSTB and it would not take away the bureau’s responsibility on drafting the blueprint for tourism development, Lee said in Cantonese.
Yeung on Friday said Lee’s remark was only intended to illustrate the division of labour between bureaux and working groups, with the latter often led by the deputy chief secretary.
“We should comment based on facts. [Lee] mentioned the CSTB only because he was asked about tourism,” Yeung said.
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