In his Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee outlined policies to advance the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism, with a view to generating fresh economic momentum and raising Hong Kong’s global appeal.
Premium arts trading hub
Mr Lee said: “Hong Kong is among the world’s top three arts trading centres. We will step up our efforts to build Hong Kong into a global premium arts trading hub, attracting more international auction houses, galleries, and professionals to establish a presence here.”
Specifically, Hong Kong will develop an arts ecosystem at the Airport City to host arts studios, galleries and dealers under one roof, supported by large-scale arts storage and related facilities.
By deepening collaboration with Art Basel, Hong Kong can also enhance its international arts trading platform, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as the exclusive host city in the region.
Additionally, the Government is going to engage the industry to carry out studies on taxation, financing, talent, and related areas of arts trading to explore policy measures applicable to Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) will take forward the development of the arts trading ecosystem and introduce the following measures next year:
(i) As the Artist Square Towers are scheduled for completion in 2026-27, the WKCD will discuss leasing strategies with the developer to attract arts trading enterprises, including galleries, insurance companies, and family offices, to lease space in the towers.
(ii) The WKCD will establish an international collaboration network for arts conservation, and provide professional training and internship opportunities.
(iii) Systematic training for talent in curation, conservation and arts administration will be expanded.
To foster diverse development at the WKCD, Mr Lee said the WKCD Authority will organise more high-profile international events, tour exhibitions overseas and in the Mainland to showcase exhibitions and collections of M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum. The WKCD will also establish the WestK Academy to provide professional training for arts and cultural organisations and practitioners from Hong Kong, overseas, and the Mainland.
The WestK Quay to be commissioned at the end of this year can enhance the WKCD’s accessibility and foster the complementary development of arts and culture, entertainment and tourism, Mr Lee added.
Local cultural, creative industries
“Hong Kong Fashion Fest will promote digital fashion and sustainable fashion in collaboration with Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week,” the Chief Executive announced.
In addition, the Cultural & Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) will enhance publicity, exchanges, and business matching overseas and in the Mainland, with a view to supporting Hong Kong films.
The CCIDA will also assist Hong Kong cultural and creative designers in producing cultural and creative products with Chinese and Hong Kong cultural features, and in the incubation of local cultural intellectual property.
Market-based business models
In his Policy Address, the Chief Executive set out new plans for the Leisure & Cultural Services Department’s facilities.
“These include leasing out museums on their closing days for commercial or private use, opening up more venues for hire, introducing paid guided tours for visitor groups, and developing more cultural and creative products to enhance visitor experience and operational efficacy.
“We will also explore the feasibility of engaging the market to enhance the operations of the Lei Yue Mun Park holiday camp and selected beaches, promoting the development of recreational, leisure, and aquatic hotspots.”
Separately, he noted that the Government will continue to strengthen the promotion of district-based Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), promoting “ICH Around Town”.
“Tourism is everywhere”
To realise the motif of “tourism is everywhere”, the Policy Address proposed measures to promote yacht economy, “mega events + tourism”, cruise tourism, “ecology + tourism”, immersive tours, Halal certification facilitation and immigration experience enhancement.
For the yacht economy, Mr Lee said the Government will enhance amenities for the yacht industry and promote prime yacht tourism:
(i) provide around 600 additional yacht berths at the ex-Lamma Quarry, the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion and the Hung Hom Station waterfront projects;
(ii) promote the development of the yacht bay at the Airport City, providing more than 500 additional berths, including berths that can accommodate superyachts over 80m in length;
(iii) relax the requirements for visiting yachts and develop a Dynamic Yacht Monitoring System, allowing visiting yachts to anchor at government designated waters and navigate in a safe and orderly manner, without having to reserve berths at privately-operated yacht clubs or piers;
(iv) enhance the Electronic Business System to allow one-stop pre-submission of arrival information from visiting yachts;
(v) authorise relevant Mainland organisations to conduct examinations for local yacht masters, and offer short-term training courses to help visiting yacht masters of visiting yachts from the Mainland obtain qualifications for navigation in Hong Kong waters; and
(vi) promote the systemic development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau individual travel scheme for yachts, and co-operate with the Guangdong Provincial Government on facilitation measures for the northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong as well as southbound travel for yachts from the Mainland.
To support the hosting of mega events, Mr Lee noted that the Fire Services Department will, for venues with lower safety risks, introduce a facilitation measure for the Temporary Place of Public Entertainment Licence by conducting compliance inspections of fire safety requirement via video conference.
Separately, the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau will begin a tender exercise for the operator of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal by the end of this year.
The Chief Executive also stated that the Government will launch the “Four Peaks” tourism project, and construct new facilities such as a tree-top adventure, an open museum of historical relics, and novel campsites.
“We will also explore suitable means to connect rural attractions such as traditional villages and fields, ancestral halls and study halls, as well as folk activities etc, enriching visitors’ experience of rural eco‑tours through strolling and cycling.”
As regards local thematic immersive tours, the Policy Address proposed a variety of new tourist attractions, such as promoting the “red tourism” route of “Chinese Cultural Celebrities Rescue”, creating thematic floral gardens in the 18 districts, and opening the former Yau Ma Tei Police Station for public visits.
“We will also open up the frontier closed areas at Mai Po and Starling Inlet for visitors.”
Moreover, the Home Affairs Department will refine application guidelines to facilitate the operation of home‑stay lodgings and holiday camps in rural areas, whilst the Development Bureau will facilitate the conversion of village houses into home-stay lodgings or community eateries.
“We will implement a new Outstanding Services Award Scheme, covering various tourism service industries, to commend merchants and industry practitioners for their outstanding products and services, and promote the hospitable culture through mass media,” the Chief Executive added.
Halal certification
To further promote Muslim tourism, the Government plans to strengthen its strategy of “accreditation, education, and promotion”, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim-friendly facilities and food options.
The Chief Executive announced: “The Tourism Board will launch a funding scheme, beginning today through the end of next year, by providing a half‑rate certification fee subsidy, capped at $5,000, for restaurants that have acquired Halal certification.”
Enhanced immigration experience
In a bid to enhance visitors’ immigration experience, a “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode will be introduced at the upcoming Huanggang Port and the Sha Tau Kok Port.
Furthermore, the Government will relax the eligibility criteria for frequent visitors wishing to use the e-Channel service, and establish Hong Kong’s first “contactless clearance” pilot checkpoint at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.
Sports development
In addition to stressing that Hong Kong will spare no effort in staging Hong Kong-hosted events of the 15th National Games, the Chief Executive added that the Government will leverage the Kai Tak Sports Park’s strengths to drive “sports + mega events” development.
Meanwhile, to attract more world-class players to compete in Hong Kong, Mr Lee announced that Hong Kong has agreed on a multi-year partnership arrangement with LIV Golf, one of the most important golf tours in the world.
Separately, following the review of the provision of direct financial support for elite athletes, Mr Lee said the Government will continue to provide financial support for athletes.
As regards governance of national sports associations (NSAs), he said the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China will prioritise collaboration with NSAs that have relatively established governance frameworks, expedite the implementation of the Code of Governance and establish a governance paradigm.
The Chief Executive added that the Government will strive to support Asian or international sports associations to establish a presence in Hong Kong through NSAs, while encouraging NSAs to participate in the work of these associations to strengthen the city’s international voice and influence.
