President of Hong Kong Drama Federation Refutes Authorities Reasons For Funding Cut

Fung Luk-Tak, president of Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies, demanded that the Arts Development Council withdraw its false allegations at a press conference on Jan. 19, 2024. Cai Wenxin/The Epoch Times

Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies refuted the arts funding body’s allegation after it cut funding for the group, Hongkongers posted support for the drama societies on social media.

Incident Playback

In June 2023, after the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies hosted the 31st Hong Kong Drama Awards presentation ceremony, the Arts Development Council, the city’s arts funding body, alleged that the ceremony damaged the Council’s reputation and pulled the last installment of HK$441,700 ($56,460) funding to the federation.

The council held that there was a “new theme” for the ceremony. Instead of inviting veterans of the industry, the federation invited journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling and political cartoonist Wong Kei-kwan, who goes by the pen name Zunzi, to be the award presenters. The two hosts included puns about “red bridges” and “red lines” in their scripts, which “implied a hidden meaning.” These tactics were alleged to “attract public and media attention” and “create social discourse.”

Choy Yuk-ling and Zunzi were both in the news at the time. The former was involved in the investigation of searching for vehicle licence plate information on the government system, after the Yuen Long “7‧21” incident in 2019, and the latter was suspended from his 40-year political cartoon column in Ming Pao in May 2023 after repeated criticisms from the authorities.

At the ceremony, Zunzi, who presented the award for “Best Director (Comedy/Farce),” said that he’d better choose a comic strip that is “not so funny” for the newspaper, “because if it is too funny, people will be angry after reading it.”

Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, the council’s chairman, said on Jan. 18 that the decision to cut part of the subsidy was to “minimise” the risk of violating the national security law.

“[It’s about] whether we can minimise our risks involving potential violations of the law, or even the national security law, when the Arts Development Council allocates sources,” he said.

‘We Won’t Beg’

In a press conference on Jan. 19, Luther Fung Luk-Tak, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies, said that the council had not given the federation any chance to defend itself, and demanded the council withdraw its allegation.

The council had never asked for prior submission of plans for the ceremony, and no approval was required. The federation had set themes for the awards presentation ceremony for many years, he said.

In addition, both Zunzi and Choy Yuk Ling work in the arts industry. In the past, the federation had also invited figures from the fashion, make-up, sports, and journalism sectors to present awards.

“By making this decision, the council is telling people that there Is a line.”

In response to the funding cut, the president said the federation would continue to organise the Drama Awards presentation ceremony, which is the most prestigious theatrical awards event in Hong Kong.

“It doesn’t matter. We won’t beg,” said Mr. Fung.

“We have no money, no venue, and a lack of resources, but with the support of the theatre industry, we will continue to organise until the objective conditions do not allow us to do so.”

He also demanded that the council withdraw its accusation: “We have our reputation. We have our dignity... We disagree with the reasons you gave, and history will record that.”

Candace Chong Mui-ngam, spokesperson of Artists Action, said that the government’s response failed to allay doubts, and members were concerned that further intervention would affect and infringe on artistic freedom. Kiri Choi/The Epoch Times

Hong Kong stage playwright Candace Chong Mui Ngam, who is also a committee member of the federation, takes the funding cut as suppression and bullying.

“The imagination of arts administration is richer than our imagination as creative people,” she said, adding that it should not be used as a reason to stifle creativity.

“If we break the law, just sue us.”

Writer and current affairs commentator Fung Xiqian, found the “offences” raised by the Council, laughable.

“Zunzi is a comic book artist, and Choy Yuk Ling is a documentary filmmaker. They obviously belong to the arts and culture sector. Both are famous, so how can they not be considered ‘renowned artists’? Even if they are not, what’s the problem? The organiser is absolutely free to invite anyone as a guest of honor,” he wrote in a social media post.

“If one cannot be a guest of honor for not belonging to the theatre sector, then how can ‘Mr. Fok Kai-kong,’ who is not an artist, be the chairman of the Arts Development Council?”

“Although the Federation of Drama Societies is supported by public funds, the public funds are taxpayers’ money.”

Fung Supported by Hongkongers

The outspokenness of Luther Fung prompted a large number of Hongkongers to comment support on social media.

“Since the national security law, Hongkongers haven’t heard anything like Luther Fung’s outspoken words,” reads one comment. “It also points out the current bad situation of social injustice in Hong Kong. Mr. Fung’s standing out now to help his theatre industry is hard to come by, so it’s worth respecting.”

“Let’s all support the Federation of Drama Societies, otherwise those so-called officials will think that everyone in the world is the silent majority, and all the citizens will be the next to be oppressed,” reads another one.

“Mr. Fung’s righteous and eloquent words are worth remembering as they highlight the absurdity of this period in Hong Kong’s history,” reads another.