Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is actively soliciting private sector proposals to introduce commercial events and paid advertising across key public spaces, marking a significant strategic shift outlined in the 2025 Policy Address. This market-sounding exercise aims to license professional operators to manage programming and advertising streams for two- to three-year terms, leveraging private expertise to generate new revenue and diversify cultural and leisure offerings. Interested firms must submit formal expressions of interest by Tuesday, December 16, following the government’s pursuit of market-based operating models for its extensive portfolio of facilities.
Diversifying Revenue Streams Through Public-Private Partnerships
The LCSD initiative centers on creating “value-added” uses for its managed facilities by integrating structured, regulated commercial activity. By tapping into private-sector capabilities, the department hopes to enhance the quality and range of public events while securing new, sustainable income. Responses from this initial call for expressions of interest will be critical in refining the final service specifications and implementation methodology before formal contracts are tendered.
Under the current proposal, the LCSD has identified two distinct streams of commercial activity: venue rentals for events and facility advertising placements.
Eight Venues Earmarked for Commercial Programming
Eight high-profile locations are set to become available for a broad spectrum of commercial and private functions. The LCSD anticipates hosts booking these spaces for corporate events, product promotions, fan meet-and-greets, book signings, small-scale music performances, and even private birthday celebrations.
The designated activity sites include:
- Hong Kong Cultural Centre
- Statue Square
- Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park
- Kai Tak Station Square
- Kwun Tong Promenade
- Sha Tin Park
- Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA)
- Oi! (Oil Street Art Space)
Significantly, the plan also envisages high-end, professionally curated exhibition tours within museums like the HKMoA, targeting premium clientele through elevated cultural experiences.
Advertising Opportunities Across 16 Facilities
In parallel, 16 LCSD venues have been identified for paid, static advertising placements. These sites include major cultural institutions such as the City Hall High Block, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Hong Kong Film Archive, the East Kowloon Cultural Centre, and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
Approved advertising placements are highly varied, allowing for visibility on exterior walls, lampposts, auditorium corridors, stairways in spectator areas, seat covers, internal pillars, walls near entrances, and inserts within event booklets. Additional venues under LCSD management may be incorporated based on professional operator recommendations and operational suitability.
Maintaining Public Trust and Image Standards
The LCSD has inserted strict compliance requirements to safeguard the government’s positive image. The department explicitly prohibits any activity or advertisement deemed detrimental or offensive. Licensed operators must adhere to rigorous content standards and are liable for the cost of removing or canceling any non-compliant materials upon departmental directive. Proposed advertising artwork must undergo approval and be submitted at least two weeks before the authorized display period begins.
Interested professional event planning and advertising firms can access detailed documentation on the LCSD website. A briefing session is scheduled for 10:30 am on Thursday, November 27, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to offer clarity ahead of the December 16 submission deadline. This initiative represents a foundational move toward embedding commercial viability and market efficiency into Hong Kong’s vital public spaces.