Executive Summary返回

1. This survey consisted of two main parts, namely, a representative survey of the general public and a qualitative study of expert opinions. The Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong was given full autonomy in designing and executing all aspects of the research.

2. The public survey comprised two different samples, namely, a large sample of the general public and a smaller booster sample of full-time students. The target population of the former group was Cantonese-speaking population of Hong Kong of age 15 or above, whereas that of the latter group was Cantonese-speaking full-time students of age 15 or above. A total of 1,009 and 311 target respondents were successfully interviewed via telephone between 22 and 29 September 2004 respectively. The overall response rate of the general sample was 61.4%, with a standard sampling error of less than 1.6% (i.e., +/-3 percentage points at 95% confidence level). As for the booster sample, the effective response rate was 84.0%, with a standard sampling error of less than 2.8% (i.e., +/-6 percentage points at 95% confidence level).

3. Meanwhile, the target population of the expert survey consisted of experts drawn from the following groups: 1) environmental groups, 2) arts/cultural groups, 3) professional bodies, 4) academic bodies, 5) secondary school principals, 6) the media, 7) analysts and bankers, and 8) voluntary participants referred to the researcher by other experts. A total of 619 valid numbers contacts were provided to the researcher by the Sino Group and the Ink Society of Hong Kong. Among them, 186 experts were subsequently interviewed by telephone (155 cases) and fax (31 cases) between 23 September and 6 October 2004. The overall response rate was 56.0%.

Respondents' usage of cultural facilities in Hong Kong

4. Results of this part of the survey showed that 70% of the general sample and 53% of the booster sample did not attend any performance, exhibition, or other cultural activity at formal cultural venues over the last 6 months. On the other hand, 51% of the general sample and 28% of the booster sample did not attend any popular cultural activity at informal cultural venues. When asked whether they have joined or visited any formal cultural activities overseas, an overwhelming majority of 88% of the general sample and 91% of the booster sample admitted not having such experience in recent years. Of those who had, Mainland China was the most popular destination.

Respondents' evaluation of the cultural and arts developments in Hong Kong

5. This survey discovered that students seemed to hold relatively higher regards in the cultural and arts developments of Hong Kong, as evident by a satisfaction rate of 46%, i.e. 7 percentage points higher than the 39% of the general sample. When asked to compare Hong Kong with other Asian countries by using a 5-point grading system, 36% of the booster sample evaluated the local developments positively, whereas only 30% of the general sample did the same. In both samples, Tokyo was the best Asian city in terms of cultural and arts developments, whereas Hong Kong was ranked amongst the top three.

6. Benchmarked against international standards, only 24% of the general sample and 21% of the booster sample rating Hong Kong as above average.

Respondents' evaluation of the formal cultural facilities in Hong Kong

7. Meanwhile, around 58% of the general sample and 61% of the booster sample evaluated the formal cultural facilities in Hong Kong as satisfactory. When asked to benchmark the facilities against those of other Asian countries using a 5-point grading system, again, a higher proportion of the booster sample (46%) gave a positive evaluation, when compared with the general sample (36%).

8. Compared with world standards, 26% of the general public considered Hong Kong's facilities above average, the corresponding figure for the booster sample was 31%.

Respondents' evaluation of the cultural policies and education in Hong Kong

9. Only around 27% of the general sample and 30% of the booster sample considered HKSAR's policies in promoting cultural and arts developments good. As to whether Hong Kong was doing a good or bad job in giving cultural and arts education, 34% of the general sample and 43% of the booster sample answered positively. Meanwhile, a landslide majority of 86% of the general sample and 94% of the booster sample considered the promotion of cultural and arts education important.

10. This survey also showed that 35% of the general sample and 50% of the booster sample were satisfied with the current supporting facilities for cultural and arts education in Hong Kong.

11. In financial terms, 68% of the general sample and 59% of the booster sample believed that organizing cultural activities in Hong Kong would lead to a loss of money.

Public opinion on West Kowloon Cultural District

12. Regarding the awareness level of the "West Kowloon Cultural District development", results of the survey revealed that 58% of the general sample have heard about the project, whereas the corresponding figure for the booster sample was 46%.

13. In respect of the expected benefits of the District, 53% of the general sample and 57% of the booster sample believed it could improve the cultural and arts atmosphere in Hong Kong. Roughly the same percentages believed it could promote cultural and arts education of the city. Theatres, concert halls and arts education and development centres were the most popular facilities and venues expected to be constructed in the District.

14. Practicality was regarded by both samples as the most important factor when constructing the facilities in the District, rather than architectural grandeur and maintenance cost. It is also the mainstream opinion of both groups that the original designer should be fully responsible for the development of the facilities in the District.

15. Cost-wise, 56% of the general sample and 63% of the booster sample said the cost incurred by managing the facilities should be borne by the developers, rather than tax-payers. Assuming that land cost was not required, around half of both groups thought the developers would incur a loss in money terms.

Respondents' concerns about the West Kowloon Cultural District

16. As shown in Table E1, the project's "impact on environment" was the primary concern for both general and booster samples. On the contrary, the "proportion of residential and property developments" in the District was the least concerned item for both groups.

Table E1 Concern levels of various attributes

Labels of the attributes

Please refer to the survey report for "don't know/ hard to say" figures.
[ ] Number in square brackets indicates rankings.

17. It is also interesting to note that, while "transparency of the tendering process" was the second most-concerned attribute for the general public, only half of the full-time students expressed concern about this issue, making it the second item from the bottom.

18. Differences are also observed on the issue of "sustainability of the District", it ranked 7th in the general sample, but 2nd in the booster sample.

19. Results of this survey also found that, an overwhelming majority of both samples considered it necessary for the government to launch a large-scale public consultation before making a final decision on the successful tenderer, the figures were 83% for the general sample and 90% for the booster sample.

20. In view of the small sample size and the non-representative nature of the expert survey, all findings in this part should only be interpreted qualitatively. They should be taken as the basis for more in-depth and representative studies of expert opinion. They are, therefore, not elaborated in detail in this summary.

21. Results show that about 30% of the experts interviewed were dissatisfied with the cultural and arts developments in Hong Kong. When asked to benchmark Hong Kong's cultural development against that of other Asian countries, one-quarter gave positive grades whereas around 30% evaluated it negatively.

22. Consistent with the general public survey, Tokyo was regarded as Asia's number one city in terms of cultural and arts developments, followed by Singapore and Beijing. Hong Kong only ranked 9th according to the experts.

23. Of our expert respondents, 30% were satisfied with the standard of Hong Kong's formal cultural facilities. Compared to other Asian countries, over one-third considered Hong Kong above average.

24. While more than 90% of the experts interviewed thought it was important to promote cultural and arts education in Hong Kong, only less than a quarter believed the government had performed well in this aspect. Nearly half of them were dissatisfied with the supporting facilities for cultural and arts education in Hong Kong.

25. Regarding the West Kowloon Cultural District development project, the experts were relatively more concerned with the government's neutrality when considering the proposals, and the transparency of the tendering process. Although most experts believed that the project would eventually end up with a deficit for the developers, representatives from arts and cultural groups, the media, analysts and bankers were more optimistic, and believed that the developers would finally make a profit.

26. Perceptions are perceptions. All findings contained in this report are perceptions depicted through our fieldwork conducted in late September to early October. Perception changes, and we may have to re-visit the issues every now and then.