Hong Kong needs cultural revival
An opinion piece in the South China Morning Post argues Hong Kong must move beyond one‑off marquee events and invest in a deeper cultural revival that supports subcultures and future creators. (scmp.com) The column frames long‑term cultural infrastructure — not only spectacles — as the city’s path to economic and creative resilience. (scmp.com)
Hong Kong’s government is pouring money into mega-events and tourism, while a new argument in the South China Morning Post says the city also needs a deeper cultural base that lasts after the crowds leave. (scmp.com) Carolyn Yim wrote on April 12, 2026 that Hong Kong is in “economic transition” as it courts family offices and global capital, but said one-off spectacles will not rebuild the city’s long-term creative strength. The column called for support for subcultures, local scenes and future creators, not only headline-grabbing events. (scmp.com) The government has leaned hard into events. In the 2025-26 budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Kai Tak Sports Park, with a 50,000-seat stadium, would host large sports and entertainment events to drive visitation and spending, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board said the budget set aside HK$1.235 billion for its promotion and operations. (budget.gov.hk, discoverhongkong.com) That strategy has produced visible numbers. Art Basel Hong Kong said its 2025 fair brought together 240 galleries from 42 countries and territories and drew 91,000 visitors, while Kai Tak Sports Park said the 2025 Hong Kong Sevens attracted more than 110,000 spectators over three days. (artbasel.com, kaitaksportspark.com.hk) Hong Kong has also tried to put a longer policy frame around culture. On November 26, 2024, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau released its Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, promising to develop cultural content with “Hong Kong character,” build international platforms and strengthen the broader ecosystem for arts and creative industries. (info.gov.hk, cstb.gov.hk) The case for deeper investment rests partly on institutions that already exist. West Kowloon Cultural District said in its 2023-24 annual report that revenue rose 42 percent year on year to HK$1.061 billion and that its museums, performing arts venues and events welcomed 4.4 million visitors during the year. (westkowloon.hk) But West Kowloon’s own figures also show how much cultural activity depends on sustained operations, not just festival weekends. The district said key venues including the Grand Theatre at Xiqu Centre and The Box at Freespace ran at close to 100 percent utilization, and external hirers staged more than 460 events there in 2023-24. (westkowloon.hk) The economic backdrop helps explain why this debate is surfacing now. The South China Morning Post column tied the culture argument to Hong Kong’s push to attract wealthy families and new investment, and the government said in September 2025 that more than 200 family offices had set up or expanded in the city with Invest Hong Kong’s help, hitting its target ahead of schedule. (scmp.com, info.gov.hk) Yim’s point is narrower than a call for more festivals and broader than a complaint about any single budget line: Hong Kong already knows how to fill a stadium and host an art fair, but the next test is whether it will keep funding the smaller scenes that produce the city those visitors come to see. (scmp.com, budget.gov.hk)
