More drama over axing of support for theatre awards as organisers say arts funding body should retract claims 2023 event damaged its reputation
- Federation of Drama Societies says arts funding body should revamp its complaints procedures after funding pulled for theatre awards
- Luther Fung, the federation president, says decision shows ‘red lines’ had been drawn for the theatrical sector
The Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies has demanded the city’s arts funding body retract claims the group damaged its reputation and revamp its complaints procedures after it cut funding for the city’s top theatre awards.
Luther Fung Luk-tak, the federation president, on Friday said the decision by the Arts Development Council to pull support for the event after a row over controversial guests at the 2023 ceremony showed that “red lines” had been drawn for the sector.
“The Arts Development Council has shown that they really have red lines themselves,” he said. “This has a very big impact on the industry’s creative autonomy.
“The industry people are already living in fear. How can they not live in greater panic after the council made the allegations against us?”
Fung appealed to the council to clarify any concerns it had to dispel misunderstandings or the appearance of bias against the federation and retract its allegations that last year’s awards ceremony affected the funding body’s reputation. The federation had not been given any chance to explain itself to the council, he said.
“We don’t mind about the council drawing some red lines,” he said. “We all respect the [national security] law which was decided by our country.
