West Kowloon Cultural District hopes high-speed rail link attracts visitors from mainland China to boost audience numbers
- Authority chairman Henry Tang says discussions under way with mainland railway bosses to tweak schedules and draw day trippers in
- Arts hub located a short walk from West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus
Hong Kong’s arts hub is in talks with mainland Chinese railway authorities to extend cross-border high-speed rail services to attract visitors from Guangdong province, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Henry Tang Ying-yen, chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, shared his vision for the future development of the arts hub and how it might take advantage of the link in an interview with the Our Hong Kong Foundation – a think tank founded by former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.
Tang said people living near cities such as Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Foshan could make a day trip to Hong Kong using the high-speed rail to watch a show at the cultural district and return the same day.
“We are discussing the possibility of delaying the last train [which currently leaves at 10.50pm] with the China Railway Corporation,” Tang said.
“Our performances could start [earlier] and finish at 10pm, so audience members can go home by train.”
The high-speed rail’s West Kowloon terminus is within walking distance of the arts hub.
A Hong Kong government source said: “We are discussing new train schedules for the high-speed rail, including later departure times. We also need to take into account the opening hours of West Kowloon station.”