Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal may host arts performances when no ships are docked in the off-peak season, the new tourism chief has said.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui also expressed optimism on Saturday that Hong Kong would hit its target of 46 million visitor arrivals for this year, stressing that the city should do its part before asking for more favourable policies from Beijing.
The cruise terminal, located on the former Kai Tak Airport runway, opened more than 11 years ago, but it has been criticised over poor transport links and underused facilities.
On Saturday, the tourism minister floated a “bold” idea to stage performances at the terminal building, which boasts a floor area of nearly 190,000 square metres.
“Of course, it will not work when ships are docked. Its core business is to serve cruise ships and I hope there will be so many ships that we will not have much time to spare. But if we have the free time, we can definitely consider that,” she told a radio show.
As summer is the typical off-peak cruise season for the city, the terminal is expected to remain vacant for five months from May to September next year, according to the site’s published calendar. This month, the terminal is scheduled to accommodate 12 cruise ship calls.