Hong Kong artists fear threat to artistic freedom

9SCMP) HongKongartistsareworriedthatartisticfreedominthecitycouldbeunderthreatfrompoliticalinterference,aplaywrightandatheatredirectorsaidonWednesdaymorning.

FreelanceplaywrightCandaceChongMui-ngam,spokeswomanforconcerngroupArtistsAction,andChanChu-hei,artisticdirectorofTheatreHorizon,werespeakingadayafterSecretaryforHomeAffairsLauKong-wahwascriticisedforhis“emptyresponse”topublicangeroverthegovernmentprohibitingaproducerfrompublishingthefullnameofherTaiwanesealmamaterinaprogrammeleafletasitcontainedtheword“national”.

ItalsoemergedonTuesdaythatthiswasnotthefirsttimesuchrestrictionshadbeenimposedbytheLeisureandCulturalServicesDepartment.

ThedepartmenthadallegedlyaskedSuieLoShuk-yin,theexecutiveproducerofaplay,nottousethefullnameofheralmamater,theTaipeiNationalUniversityoftheArts,inherartistbiography.

SpeakingonRTHKonWednesdaymorning,Chongsaid:“Iamworriedwhetherthisisanothersteptointerfereandnarrowdown[ourspace],andthatartistscouldwonderwhethertherearethingstheyshouldnotsayintheirwork...becausemanyofthemaregovernment-subsidised.”

Shesaidtherehadbeenconcernoverthepoliticalclimateinrecentyearsduetoissuessuchasdiminishingpressfreedom.

“Iamveryworriedwhethertheshadowoverthepress,televisionandfilmmakingisnowspreadingtous,”sheadded.

Chansaid:“Wehavebeenenjoyingfreedominthecreativearts,andIbelievetherewasnocensorshipofourcontent,orrequestsforustochangeanycontent...soweneedtomakesureifthisincidentisthestartofatrend.”

Speakingseparatelyontheradioprogramme,culturalsectorlawmakerMaFung-kwokagreedthatthegovernmentshouldcomecleanonthematter.

“Itwasonlyafactualdescriptionofanartistaboutthenameofanuniversity...Idon’tseewhyitcouldbeproblematic,”Masaid.

Buthealsosaidtheincidenthad“littletodowithartisticfreedom”.

“Itcouldbecausedbysomeofficialsbeingtoonervousbecausesomeradicalshavebeenadvocatingthecity’sindependencerecently,”hesaid.

ChiefExecutiveLeungChun-yingwasonceagainquestionedbythemediaaboutthecontroversybeforeheleftfortheBoaoForumforAsiaAnnualConferenceonWednesdaymorning,buthesaidthehomeaffairsministerhadalreadyrespondedonTuesday.

“Wewillcontinuetoreviewthematter,”headded.

LauspentlessthantwominutesonTuesdayreadingapreparedstatementinChineseandEnglish,sayingtheauthoritieshadmaintainedcloserelationswithdifferentartgroupsandwouldlookintoimprovingcommunicationwiththem.Hedidnotmentionthecontroversyandrefusedtoanswerquestions.