Integrating HK Heritage Museum collections just a 'preliminary concept,' Govt stresses

The government said the rearrangement of the collections of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is a "preliminary concept at this juncture" as some citizens worried HKHM would be lost in the city under the re-provisioning plan.

The comment came after authorities recently proposed setting up a designated museum on national development and achievements at the current site of the Science Museum, with plans to relocate the Science Museum to the site of the HKHM in Shatin.

Raistlin Lau Chun, the acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said in the Legislative Council that authorities are exploring and identifying the optimal site for the new national development museum while formulating appropriate plans for its contents, curatorial approach and implementation schedule. 

He said the museum should be located in the town center to facilitate easy visits for the public and tourists, while it also requires vast space for the inclusion of various exhibition contents and better promotion of the development and achievements of China.

As for rearranging the collections of HKHM, such as integrating the art-related collections into the Hong Kong Museum of Art and its proposed branch museum at the site in the Southern District is just a "preliminary concept at this juncture." 

"It is necessary to stress again that we do treasure every museum collection item greatly, and the LCSD will endeavor to provide space for displaying our collections having regard to donors' wishes and other factors," said Lau.

Lau added that to strengthen the focus on Hong Kong's unique pop culture, which covers film, television, music, martial arts and others, the government is contemplating a new museum site for relevant exhibitions and artefacts to set up a "Pop Culture Centre" as a landmark for a tourist attraction. 

He said the authorities expect to consult LegCo and various stakeholders on museums' overall future planning in the first half of this year.