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Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse Wai-chun and an oral reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, in the Legislative Council today (January 14):
Question:
Some people from the tourism trade have relayed to me that building facilities to commend the achievements of Hong Kong celebrities (for example, a Bruce Lee memorial hall) will be conducive to the development of tourism. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) it has conducted any survey to gauge the views of the public and tourists on building a Bruce Lee memorial hall and conserving the residence of Bruce Lee in Kowloon Tong; if it has, of the results; if not, whether it will conduct such a survey;
(b) it has studied the feasibility of the proposal put forward by the owner of the residence of Bruce Lee to convert the building into a Bruce Lee memorial hall; if it has, of the details; if not, whether it will conduct the study expeditiously; and
(c) it has any plan to set up facilities and take forward such projects to commend other internationally renowned Hong Kong celebrities; if it has, of the details and the criteria for determining whether it will set up facilities to commend a particular celebrity, so as to develop new tourist attractions; if it has not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government is committed to developing and promoting our various attractions, and exploring new and unique tourism products, so as to enhance Hong Kong¡¯s appeal as a premier tourist destination and enrich visitors' experience in Hong Kong.
My reply to the Honourable Paul Tse¡¯s question is as follows:
(a) The Government has not conducted any formal survey to gauge the views of the public and tourists about the development of a Bruce Lee memorial hall and conserving Bruce Lee¡¯s former residence (the residence) in Kowloon Tong. However, we have been monitoring public views on the establishment of a Bruce Lee memorial hall, in recognition of Mr Bruce Lee's achievements in martial arts and film development. We believe that the community will support the proposal of conserving his residence to commemorate and pay tribute to Mr Bruce Lee. Mr Lee is an international celebrity, and many people in China and abroad are interested in his life. Conserving his residence and opening it to both local and overseas visitors can commemorate Mr Lee and his achievements, and will also bring tourism benefits to Hong Kong.
The Kowloon City District Council discussed and supported the proposal at its meeting in July 2008. A Member pointed out that the proposed development should take account of the quiet and low-density environment of Kowloon Tong, as well as the possible impact on the traffic and surrounding areas.
(b) On January 6, I met with Mr Yu Pang-lin, owner of Mr Bruce Lee's former residence. We exchanged views and reached a consensus on how to conserve the property in commemoration of Mr Bruce Lee. Both sides have agreed to actively explore specific management and operation options under the broad principle of preserving and restoring the original appearance of the residence. This includes seeking the assistance of Mr Bruce Lee¡¯s family and identifying suitable partners. We will then consult Mr Yu on concrete proposals.
(c) When we consider whether a new public museum for commemorating a particular historical or renowned figure should be provided, we will have to take into account the concerned historical figure¡¯s association with local historical and cultural development, and his or her importance and influence on the development of Hong Kong. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department under Home Affairs Bureau manages 14 public museums, two heritage centres and the Hong Kong Film Archive. At present, the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum is the only public museum commemorating a historical figure.
Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:49
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