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Unlike Singapore, Hong Kong would not be able to pay for Taylor Swift concerts with taxpayer funds without disclosing amount: ex-city leader CY Leung
- ‘I don’t think the Hong Kong government can get away with paying taxpayers’ money, whatever the cause is, without telling people how much,’ ex-city leader CY Leung says
- Money not a silver bullet to lure international stars such as Taylor Swift to Hong Kong, tourism minister notes
Hong Kong tourism
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Natalie Wongin BeijingandCannix Yauin Hong Kong
Published: 2:23pm, 9 Mar, 2024
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Hong Kong cannot use public funds like Singapore has done to secure exclusive Taylor Swift concerts without disclosing the amount, as residents are very conscious about taxpayer money being spent, the city’s former leader Leung Chun-ying has said.
Leung, now a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, also told the Post in an interview in Beijing that the government could improve its efforts in competing with rival cities to lure high-income tourists.
His comments echoed those of tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, who on Saturday said the government would not only rely on financial strategies to attract global stars to the city.
Former city leader Leung Chun-ying in Beijing. He says the Hong Kong government would not be able to get away with spending taxpayer money without disclosing the amount. Photo: Natalie Wong
Singapore paid the American pop star to make the city state the sole Southeast Asian stop on her world tour. Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin earlier claimed that Singapore had paid Swift about US$2.8 million per show under the deal.
Economists estimate the deal will contribute US$372 million in tourist receipts for the city state.
Despite suggestions by lawmakers and industry representatives that Hong Kong should follow suit in the future, former chief executive Leung said he “simply could not imagine the Hong Kong government doing that”.
“I don’t think the Hong Kong government can get away with paying taxpayers’ money, whatever the cause is, without telling people how much. Many other governments don’t do that either,” he said.
“The Hong Kong government always tells the public how much money has been spent on what.”
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Leung, however, said the city must be quick in delivering tourism strategies in the face of keen competition with neighbouring cities.“We should look at it as a question of speed. We are living in a highly competitive environment, internationally and also nationally,” Leung said.
“The Greater Bay Area cities have been very quick on their feet. Singapore has been very quick. It’s a speed game. We need to be quick to deliver. Time to market [the initiatives] is important.”
The bay area refers to a national initiative to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine neighbouring mainland cities into an economic powerhouse.
Leung said decision-making bodies should be given enough discretion to make “bold” moves to compete with rival cities to upgrade tourism products.
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Recalling a visit a few years ago to South Korea where he met authorities responsible for boosting its creative and entertainment industry, Leung said they were given a lot of discretion on how to spend public money.“There is no sure-fire [way of knowing] whether the initiatives will eventually become successful. We need that kind of funkiness in supporting the development of our innovation and technology industry,” he said.
He added that the key tourism performance indicators, an emphasis of the current administration, should not just focus on visitor numbers and also factor in tourists’ income and the goodwill of Hong Kong.
The administration should also prioritise enhancing high-value services when devising its strategy, such as conventions and exhibitions.
Separately, tourism minister Yeung said money was not a silver bullet for luring international stars such as Taylor Swift to Hong Kong.
“Is money the only means to get them to come to Hong Kong? Is it the only case that I can snatch them if I pay one or two dollars more? I don’t think so,” he said.
“We can offer a variety of different things … and stars have their own considerations about different locations. Sometimes it depends on the performers’ preferences for different markets as it is more convenient for mainland Chinese visitors to come over to Hong Kong.”
He vowed to mount a charm offensive by inviting famous performers and holding mega events in the city to boost its sluggish economy.
2024-25 Budget initiatives with Secretary for Culture Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, at Central Government Offices (CGO). Photo: Jonathan Wong
Yeung also brushed aside concerns about the city imposing curbs on creative freedoms following recent cancellations of various performances.
The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts’ graduation show featuring the play Accidental Death of an Anarchist had been cancelled last month due to “changes in the Academy’s production plan.”
The production was based on the play written by Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo. Graduates involved in the performance reportedly said they felt “helpless” and “speechless” about the cancellation.
Last month, the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation called off three performances by deaf dance group Fun Forest, citing “changes in production arrangements.”
Fun Forest’s founder Jason Wong Yiu-pong claimed the show had been halted by the sponsor, Hong Kong Jockey Club, and that the cancellation could be linked to his appearance in a sign language music video of protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” during the social unrest in 2019.
Yeung said the academy’s show cancellation was “purely a decision of its own” after it assessed that the performance was “not appropriate”.
“We support its decision because they fully understand the needs of the students,” the tourism minister said.
In the case of the deaf dance group’s cancelled show, Yeung said the organiser had explained it was due to production changes and there “no reason to doubt them”.
“We still see a lot of arts productions here,” he said.
