Hong Kong Fringe Club mounts what could be its farewell show, a retrospective of art exhibitions from the past four decades

Will the Fringe Club’s lease in Central be renewed? With its fate up in the air after three years of disruption, it is staging its biggest art exhibition yet

Frog King gets a floor to himself, and works by 65 other artists associated with the club since its opening in 1983 are featured in the ‘Be 40’ show

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Director of the Hong Kong Fringe Club Benny Chia poses outside its premises in Lower Albert Road, Central, where its lease is up in 2023. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Joyce Lau

Published: 6:15pm, 23 Jun 2022

The fate of Hong Kong’s Fringe Club is up in the air.

The government first leased the 19th-century corner building it occupies in Lower Albert Road, Central, to the club at the time of its founding in 1983. The lease, which has already been extended for a year, will expire in March 2023, just two months after the end of the lease held by its long-term neighbour in the heritage building, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Hong Kong.

Restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 have dampened activities at the arts venue, once known for its boisterous big band jazz nights, packed restaurant and art gallery openings.

Benny Chia, the club’s director, says its operations have suffered for the past three years, first because of the 2019 street protests sparked by proposed changes to Hong Kong extradition law, and then because of the pandemic.

The Fringe Club has occupied its corner premises in Central since its founding in 1983 and finding alternative premises would be difficult, founder Benny Chia says. Photo: Edmond So

He is speaking next to an empty stage at The Dairy, where revellers used to sip cocktails and swing dance around the bar tables. While the club still has occasional performances, audiences must be fully masked and remain seated, numbers are restricted and no refreshments can be served.