Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Since its inauguration in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has established itself as Hong Kong's premier performing arts venue, attracting leading artists from around the world. It has three main performing venues: Concert Hall, with a seating capacity of 2 019, Grand Theatre, seating capacity 1 734, and Studio Theatre which seats 303 to 496. In 2005, a total of 762 400 people attended 862 performances in these venues.

Hong Kong City Hall

The Hong Kong City Hall, the first cultural venue of its kind built in Hong Kong in 1962, commands a special place in Hong Kong's cultural development. It is a major multi-purpose complex comprising the Concert Hall, Theatre, Recital Hall, Exhibition Hall and Exhibition Gallery. A total of 677 events were held during the year, attracting 352 800 people.

Regional and District Civic Centres

In addition to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong City Hall and the two indoor stadia, the LCSD operates 11 regional and district civic centres: the Sheung Wan Civic Centre and Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre on Hong Kong Island; the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre and Ko Shan Theatre in Kowloon; and the Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, North District Town Hall and Tai Po Civic Centre in the New Territories.

In 2005, the Programme Partnership Scheme was relaunched at Yuen Long Theatre, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, and Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre. Under this scheme, facilities and resources were provided to selected arts groups to organise audience-building programmes and create new works. In this way, the arts community was offered the opportunity to be involved in organising programmes and to fully utilise the facilities at these civic centres.

Indoor Stadia

The Hong Kong Coliseum and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium are two of the largest multi-purpose indoor stadia in Hong Kong. The 12 500-seat coliseum is a leading venue for pop concerts, musicals, entertainment spectaculars, international sporting events, cultural programmes, large-scale celebrations and conventions. The 3 600-seat stadium is suitable for holding sports events, cultural and entertainment performances, school ceremonies, conferences and variety shows.

During the year, 179 performances were staged in the coliseum and 262 in the stadium attracting over 2 016 700 people.

West Kowloon Cultural District

In September 2003, the Government invited proposals from the private sector to develop a 40-hectare prime waterfront site at the southern tip of the West Kowloon Reclamation into an integrated arts, cultural, commercial and entertainment district with the aim of enhancing Hong Kong's position as a centre for arts, culture and entertainment in Asia. It received five proposals by the submission deadline of June 19, 2004. Three of them met all the mandatory requirements and were screened in. A large-scale public consultation on the proposals submitted by the three screened-in proponents was held from mid December 2004 to the end of June 2005. In October 2005, in response to the outcome of the consultation, the Government introduced additional development parameters and conditions for the three screened-in proponents to consider and respond to by January 2006. It will decide the way forward after taking into account the response of the proponents.

URBTIX — Computerised Ticketing System

URBTIX (Urban Ticketing System) was launched in 1984 and has become the most popular ticketing system in Hong Kong. Members of the public may purchase tickets at any of the 33 outlets as well as through its telephone booking and Internet ticketing services. During the year, some 4.37 million tickets for over 7 700 performances were sold, with a total sales value of $651 million.

The LCSD has outsourced the back-end ticketing functions to the private sector for development of an advanced ticketing system targeted for completion in 2006. The department will maintain the operation of ticket outlets and services for venue hirers.