Opinion | Can Hong Kong’s government replicate the ‘Korean wave’? It’s unlikely

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying has revived his proposal for a culture bureau. However, the government’s track record of nurturing new industries is dismal, with Hong Kong entertainment success stories having developed more organically

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A fan of K-pop group BTS stands against a backdrop featuring an image of the band members as they arrive for the final concert of their world tour at the Olympic stadium in Seoul on October 29, 2019. The tour drew a total audience of more than 2 million at 62 shows in 23 cities, according to Big Hit Entertainment. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:15am, 13 Jun 2021Updated: 9:15am, 13 Jun 2021

Shortly after Leung Chun-ying was elected chief executive of Hong Kong in March 2012, he launched a large-scale government reorganisation initiative. One of the key features of the plan, announced in May 2012, was the creation of a new “culture bureau”.

The bureau would take over responsibility for cultural development, creative industries and heritage conservation from existing bureaus. It would formulate a school curriculum for arts and culture, and promote the interaction of local cultural talent with their counterparts in mainland China and overseas.

Relentless filibustering by the pan-democrats in the Legislative Council forced Leung to abandon the plan.

Almost 10 years later, in early May, Leung brought back his proposal for a culture bureau. Now that Hong Kong has been designated as a “culture and arts hub for interaction between China and the rest of the world” under China’s 14th five-year plan, resuscitation of the proposal seems justified.

In reality, as lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok, a representative of the sports, performing arts, culture and publication sector, pointed out, given the government’s meagre expenditure on culture and related activities, any new bureau focusing on culture alone would have limited resources at its disposal and inadequate clout to implement its agenda.

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying proposed in 2012 the formation of new culture bureau as part of a government reorganisation. While the plan was eventually dropped, Leung has reactivated it recently. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong would be much better off following the example of mainland China, Britain and South Korea in establishing a broader bureau encompassing responsibility for culture, sport and tourism, heritage and digital industries.