As we’ve previously reported the Covid-19 pandemic has led to tough times for many in the arts and culture sector. Although the government has allocated $150 million from the “Anti-epidemic Fund” to help the sector, a fair number of people aren’t eligible to apply. Although the second phase of the fund does cover freelance workers, they have to have contributed to the Mandatory Provident Fund in 2019 in order to apply for a $7,500 subsidy. Established organisations can apply in the first phase. But some organisations are saying it’s too hard to get official recognition, in the form of registration, in the first place. And that has effects not only on funding but also – they say - on their democratic rights.

"Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony.” Shakespeare wrote many lines, like that one from “The Merchant of Venice”, praising music. Many of his plays contain songs and dances, Lance Mok, a London-based pianist-composer who recently returned to Hong Kong is here to talk about a project to combine the words of Shakespeare’s complete sonnets with music. Based in London and Hong Kong pianist-composer Lance Mok has a broad performance repertoire that ranges from Bach to Ligeti. He likes to juxtapose relatively unknown pieces with more popular works. Also an active composer, Lance is now working on a project to create song cycles out of William Shakespeare’s complete sonnets. He’s here to tell us more, along with a former guest of The Works, harmonicist Gordon Lee.