4 members of Hong Kong Arts Development Council resign, with one citing ‘personal safety’ concerns
- Artist Chris Chan, songwriter Adrian Chow, theatre director Indy Lee and government appointee Vigo Yau leave arts funding body
- Chan’s departure could be linked to news report by pro-Beijing media Ta Kung Pao, which had published his personal details
Four members of Hong Kong’s arts funding body have resigned, with one who had come under attack by pro-Beijing media citing concerns over “personal safety” as a reason for his departure.
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council on Saturday confirmed that three elected representatives – artist Chris Chan Kam-sing, songwriter Adrian Chow Pok-yin and theatre director Indy Lee Chun-leung – ended their terms earlier this week, along with government appointee Vigo Yau Ah-kwai.
The council said it received notice of their resignations over “personal reasons” in June and August, respectively.
But on Monday, the council clarified that Yau actually tendered his resignation in May and finished his term at the end of that month.
Their departures left about 15 per cent of the body’s 27 seats vacant and raised concerns over the future of the council and the city’s artistic freedom. They were supposed to finish their three-year terms by December 31 next year.
