New Palace Museum head as doors set to open

Former Bar Association head Winnie Tam Wan-chi will be at the helm of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which opens on Saturday.

Tam will be the board chairwoman for a two-year term from September 1 to August 2024, replacing Bernard Charnwut Chan, who took office as M+ Museum board chairman in April. Chan is also the outgoing Executive Council convener.

Tam, 60, has served on the board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority since 2016 and has been chairwoman of the Performing Arts Committee since 2020.

She is also chairwoman of the Communications Authority, a member of the Law Reform Commission and the Tourism Board, and a recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.

She was Bar Association chairwoman from 2015 to 2017.

"I am pleased to have Tam joining the board at a time when the Hong Kong Palace Museum enters into operation and starts a new chapter," said authority chairman Henry Tang Ying-yen.

"With her passionate commitment to arts and cultural development and comprehensive knowledge, as well as her understanding of the intricacies of the West Kowloon Cultural District project, I am confident that the Hong Kong Palace Museum will continue to fulfill the core missions and visions in promoting traditional Chinese art and culture to the world and fostering dialogue among world civilizations," Tang said.

He expressed gratitude to outgoing Chan, who will step down in late August, saying he has made tremendous contributions in construction, forming its team, raising donations and preparing for its opening.

"Under his leadership, the Hong Kong Palace Museum has successfully been completed without any budget overruns or delays, which is an exemplary record for projects in recent times," Tang said.

"I eagerly look forward to continuing working closely with him to realize the vision and mission of M+."

The Hong Kong Palace Museum's board is responsible for formulating its vision and mission, as well as strategies, policies and guidelines concerning museological matters.

Anticipating more people, Citybus said that starting from Saturday, its route 973 - which operates between Stanley Village and Tsim Sha Tsui (Mody Road) - will detour to the West Kowloon Cultural District on weekends and public holidays, with the bus fare remaining unchanged at HK$16.20.

Two new bus stops will be added outside the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+.

The Transport Department said a free shuttle bus service will also be made available from opening day on Saturday. It will travel between the Palace Museum, M+ and the cultural district's west entrance.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com