The organiser of Hong Kong’s largest theatre awards was not given a chance to defend itself against a decision to pull its funding, the body’s chairman has said, calling on the city’s arts council to retract accusations that the awards had “harmed” the council.
Addressing reporters in Cantonese on Friday morning, chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies Luther Fung said he had called the press conference to “defend the theatre industry’s dignity.” The federation was not told which lines it had crossed when the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) decided to pull support for this year’s awards.
Fung’s calls came after the HKADC said in a statement on Thursday that last year’s awards may have “directly or indirectly harmed or had a negative effect” on the council.
Council chair Kenneth Fok told reporters in Cantonese on Thursday that it pulled funding for the awards to “reduce the risk of potentially breaching” the national security law.
‘Chilling effect’
The council’s decision came as a surprise, Fung said, adding that the federation had maintained good relations with the council for more than two decades.
He added that the HKADC accused the federation of “deviating” from its usual practice by introducing a new theme, new content, and stage decorations, and by inviting guests from outside of the field.
The council was apparently referring to last year’s awards featuring political cartoonist Wong Kei-kwan, known as Zunzi, as well as journalist Bao Choy as presenters. Fung then said: “Zunzi is a veteran cartoonist – are cartoons not art? Choy is a documentary director – are documentaries not art?”
In a Chinese statement on Friday, the federation questioned whether the council’s move was meant to create a “chilling effect.”
The council had accused, in a Chinese statement issued on Thursday evening, the federation of “drawing the attention of the public and the media” by including mentions of “red bridges” and “red lines” in their scripts, which it called “double entendres”.
But those were simply stylistic cues, Fung said. “We never made any high-profile mentions of red lines or red bridges,” he added. “Since [the HKADC] made its decision, we’ve watched the recordings several times. I wouldn’t have imagined this – not in my wildest dreams.”
Playwright and external secretary of the federation Candace Chong said the council’s move demonstrated that the words “red line” themselves were a taboo. “If we’ve broken the law, then charge us,” she said in Cantonese.
“The imagination of the arts administration is stronger than that of any of us creators. We would never have imagined that [funding was pulled] because we said the words ‘red line’,” she told reporters at the side-lines of the press conference, according to Ming Pao.
No official meeting
A letter on the “adjustment” of funding was dated September 29 last year, while the second letter on the denial of funding was dated November 30. Both letters were officially received on December 8, Fung told reporters.
“Isn’t the [HKADC] supposed to lead us in developing Hong Kong’s arts scene? If we are facing unreasonable complaints, isn’t the council supposed to… guide us, or even protect us?” Fung asked.
“You made an official decision without giving us a chance to defend ourselves, and that came as a shock to us,” he said, adding that there had been no official meetings between the council and the federation over the funding issue.
“We demand a clarification, and for accusations to be retracted — we will not file a so-called appeal,” said Fung. “[We’re] poor, but we have a backbone!”
He added that he hoped Fok would meet the federation in an official capacity, adding that he understood Fok may face a conflict of interest as chairperson of the HKADC and lawmaker for the performing arts sector.
‘Appropriate content’
In a Chinese statement issued after the press conference, the council said “established application and monitoring procedures were followed” in its handling of funding applications, and that recommendations were discussed and reviewed by the council’s Arts Support Committee before being presented to the general assembly for a final decision.
The council would address “any issues or inadequacies” it identified, the statement read.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said that it was “only natural” for the HKADC to fund and support arts projects “with appropriate content” in line with the government’s requirements.
“Whether any cultural and artistic activity is supported by public funds is a question of the proper use of resources, and it is by no means a restriction on creation. There are some opinions that the [council’s] decision will affect or even stifle creative space … The government will never agree with such unreasonable remarks.”
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