Science, Heritage museums could be staying put

The Hong Kong Science Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin could remain in their current locations, said Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.

This decision comes after a paper was presented to the Legislative Council last year, outlining the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau's plan to transform the Hong Kong Science Museum into a designated museum focused on national development and achievements. According to that plan, the science museum would have been relocated to the heritage museum site.

However, Liu said in a recent press conference that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has been in discussions with the Development Bureau to find an alternative site for the national achievement museum due to public feedback.

"If we can find a better site, we would definitely use it," he said, adding that transport convenience is one of the factors being taken into account. The department aims to consult the Legislative Council within the first half of this year.

Regarding the exhibits currently housed at the heritage museum, including those related to Chinese novelist Jin Yong, Hong Kong martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Cantonese opera and various Hong Kong and Chinese art forms, the paper said that they would be allocated to other museums.

Liu also announced that the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence in Shau Kei Wan will be renamed the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence in September.

He said that the museum will collaborate with the Shenzhen Bureau of Culture to present relevant exhibitions.

In terms of visitor numbers, Liu said that about six million people attended the department's activities and exhibitions last year. Among visitors, half were tourists and 20 percent came from mainland China.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui and Heritage Museum were particularly popular among tourists.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art received over 1.25 million visitors in total, with the highest single-day attendance recorded on National Day, attracting 19,228 visitors.

Liu said the ongoing exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, titled Timeless Diva: Anita Mui, has received high acclaim from the public.

The exhibition, which runs until September 2 this year, recently welcomed its 100,000th visitor, a female fan of the late Cantopop diva Anita Mui Yim-fong.

Liu said that after visiting the exhibition, the fan, named Zhang from Beijing, followed the museum's guides on mainland social media platforms and visited Mui's former residence and other relevant locations.

Regarding admission fees for LCSD museums and sports centers, Liu said: "discussions have been taking place with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau regarding fee adjustments. Detailed information about the adjustments will be announced soon."

Liu said there is a possibility of fee increases this time as the previous review lowered entrance fees, adding that the LCSD has no plans to introduce a tourist bundle as current entrance fees are already considered "very cheap."