Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese opera while the Hong Kong Coliseum will be positioned as a concert venue, the government said on Thursday.

The reform of the hiring policy of the city’s performance venues is part of a wider effort to promote the mega-event development of the performing arts in Hong Kong, following the official opening of Kai Tak Stadium in March.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the latest move could provide more performance slots for use by different art groups and establish clearer venue identities.

Under the reform, the 1,372-seat auditorium in Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese opera, the first world-class intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong.

Professional troupes fulfilling certain criteria could make special bookings throughout the year for Cantonese opera or opera-excerpt performances to promote high-quality productions and the inheritance of cultural heritage, the department added.

“[The new policy] could ensure reasonable opportunities for proficient troupes to hire performance venues while supporting the professional and industry development of Cantonese opera.”