John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Gong Zheng, the mayor of Shanghai, agreed to deepen cooperation in various areas in April, marking the closer ties between the two star cities in the nation.

The Big Duo’s cooperation will be all-inclusive, including but not limited to innovation and technology, the digital economy, finance, aviation, shipping and logistics, culture and creative industries (CCIs), education, and talent development.

Despite the enhanced cooperation, Shanghai, the leading city in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, distinguishes itself from Hong Kong by its strength in manufacturing, technology, and service industries, whereas the HKSAR, as the core city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, is outrun for the lack of a manufacturing sector.

Cultural policies and utilization of cultural spaces are the main determinants of CCI development. “50 Opinions on Accelerating the Innovative Development of the CCI in Shanghai” (“50 Opinions”) was released in 2017 to enhance the quality and quantity of cultural spaces in the city. Then in 2021, the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) reinforced Hong Kong’s role as the East-meets-West center for international cultural exchanges.

Cultural policy

In addition to the “50 Opinions”, the Shanghai municipal government has hammered out a series of policies and plans to promote its cultural development. In addition, Shanghai’s “Procedures on Art Museum Administration” became the country’s first municipal-level regulations for art museums. The legislative plan of the 16th Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress (2023-27) also includes regulations for public libraries and museums.

In 2023, on the other hand, the HKSAR government established the Culture Commission, which is mapping out the “Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development and a 10-Year Development” for sports and recreation facilities with the aim of increasing the number of the museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) from the current 15 to 19, and increasing the number of seats in performance venues by about 50 percent. The government will “continue to implement the 10-year Development Plan” as outlined in the chief executive’s 2023 Policy Address.

Cultural space

Hong Kong’s major cultural venues, including theaters, concert halls, art museums, and public libraries, are managed by the LCSD and run on government grants. The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), the largest cultural infrastructure project, whose planning began in the 2000s, is also seen as a key cultural space. The WKCD’s plan includes the Xiqu Centre, which opened in 2019. In addition, there are the Art Park, Freespace, M+, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Certain cultural spaces, utilizing government land, receive support from charitable grants. Construction is funded by nongovernmental investments, while leasing and commercial activities cover operation and management costs. Examples include the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre and Tai Kwun, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Figures: Hong Kong versus Shanghai

Shanghai’s endeavor to promote the development of the CCIs and tourism provides a valuable reference for Hong Kong. It has made significant progress in constructing cultural spaces, including theaters, libraries, and museums.

Hong Kong has 15 museums, while Shanghai boasts 162 museums, more than 10 times that of the HKSAR. The combined floor area of Hong Kong’s museums is around 160,000 square meters, whereas Shanghai’s seven national-level museums alone cover 210,000 sq m.

Hong Kong has six art museums, while Shanghai has 96. In terms of performing arts venues, Shanghai has 112. For Hong Kong, the list of performing arts venues in 2020-21 by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council shows various performing arts venues, comprising 26 facilities, have a total seating capacity of approximately 28,000. In contrast, available data for 65 out of Shanghai’s 112 venues reveals a seating capacity of 69,400.

Hong Kong has 84 libraries, compared to Shanghai’s 239 libraries. The Hong Kong Public Libraries hold 15.38 million library items, while Shanghai’s 19 national-level libraries collectively house 70.09 million items.

Since 2019, the number of museums has been increasing annually in Shanghai, which not only showcases the city’s cultural resources, but also highlights its own unique culture, such as the haipai (literally “Shanghai style”), Jiangnan, and Wuyue cultures, preserving the city’s history. Moreover, Shanghai has 241 community cultural activity centers across its districts. These centers provide spaces for exhibitions, performances, screenings, sports, and other events, enhancing the cultural and recreational life of Shanghai residents.

The way forward

Strategic development of arts and culture requires informed decision-making. New York, London, Tokyo, and Shanghai have already organized their cultural data. Data such as types of venues, hardware, software, etc, help reflect a city’s capacity for cultural innovation.

To further Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration, regular evaluations, policy research, and think tanks should be established. The HKSAR government should also focus on understanding local cultural space, analyzing current situations, and assessing the adequacy of existing facilities through cultural big data.

It will take long-term planning and design to maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness among other areas and transform Hong Kong into an international hub for cultural exchange. Therefore, the government should organize district-specific data, prioritize citywide training programs for talents, and implement indicators for systematic planning. These measures will provide valuable insights into the growth and enhancement of cultural spaces and help nurture creativity in the HKSAR.

The author is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and artistic director of Zuni Icosahedron.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.