The East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) officially commenced full operations on Monday, with Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki describing it as a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to promote arts and culture, and to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a hub for cultural exchange between East and West.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony today, Chan said the EKCC is the city’s latest flagship performance venue and the first to integrate arts and technology, serving as a platform for innovation, collaboration, and artistic exchange.
Located in Ngau Tau Kok, the design of the EKCC symbolizes the district’s cultural core and reflects the historical memory of the old community, achieving what Chan described as a fusion of “the old and the new.”
He noted that the Centre houses five performance venues accommodating between 120 and 1,200 audience members, all equipped with advanced stage and lighting systems.
The theatres will host long-term performances to support the sustained growth of Hong Kong’s performing arts industry, said Chan.
Since August, the Centre has staged around 20 shows under the “Unbox EKCC” Trial Programme Series, attracting over 13,000 visitors across nearly 500 performances, Chan added.
In the coming three months of the opening season, a diverse line-up of local and international performances will be presented, including dance shows incorporating drone technology.
Chan also noted that, with the National Games set to begin this Sunday, the event will embody the principle of “shaping tourism with culture and promoting culture through tourism,” which he said would help boost economic development.
He said the government will continue to promote the integration of sports, culture, and tourism, fostering a mega event economy and driving the growth of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries.
