Hong Kong is seeking to revive its arts scene to become a regional cultural hub, but some art critics have said they were concerned that a new security law may hinder creativity ahead of a series of events that include Art Basel Hong Kong. On Monday, Hong Kong's leader John Lee inaugurated the Hong Kong International Cultural Summit by saying the government plans to inject $550 million into various art initiatives including a film fund to build Hong Kong into an "East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange". Some art critics, however, said the national security law had added to their concerns about freedoms, especially after the arrests of publishers and journalists in a clampdown imposed by China after the city's anti-government and pro-democracy protests in 2019.