The Hong Kong City Hall is the first multi-purpose cultural complex ever built to provide the community of Hong Kong with an array of cultural and artistic programmes. It celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2022. Over the years, it has not only enhanced the spiritual life of the public, but has also nurtured countless artistic talents. In addition to being a cradle for the growth of local arts groups and artists, the City Hall, a major cultural venue in Hong Kong, also provides a stage for top notch artists and arts groups from around the world to make their debut in Hong Kong. They include cellists Janos Starker and Yo-Yo Ma; pianists Arthur Rubinstein and Fou Ts'ong; singers Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Patti Page; the National Theatre of China, Xiang Opera Theatre of Hunan, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Stuttgart Ballet, and The Royal Ballet, etc. From there, 16 professional performance venues sprouted, providing diverse cultural services to enrich the life of the city.
The City Hall Library, which is housed in the adjacent High Block of City Hall, is the very first public library in Hong Kong with a huge collection of books. By the end of 2021, the library network has evolved and comprises a total of 70 libraries (one central library, six major libraries, 31 district libraries and 32 small libraries), 12 mobile libraries and three self-service libraries, providing the public with a physical collection of about 15 million items.
60 years ago, the City Hall is an outstanding example of Modernist architecture, making it especially noticeable among the Victorian surroundings. The minimalistic style yet practical function greatly connected the City Hall with the people. This architectural style made the civic centre a landmark design and set the trend for the Hong Kong architecture at the time. The City Hall was declared a monument in 2022, coinciding with its 60th birthday, recognises the value of the City Hall to the historical, social and cultural development of Hong Kong, and allows the venue to be permanently conserved as the 'youngest monument'. In the years to come, it will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for artists and contribute to the continuous and multi-faceted development of the arts in Hong Kong.
