CE visits PMQ (with photos/video)
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To support the development of creative industries of Hong Kong, the Musketeers Foundation set up the PMQ Management Company Limited and successfully secured the operating right of the project to revitalise the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road, a Grade 3 historic building on Aberdeen Street in Central, into a creative landmark. The project is operated by the non-profit-making social enterprise and named the PMQ.
Mrs Lam said, "Since its opening in 2014, the PMQ has been committed to nurturing local creative entrepreneurs and designers and, through attracting visitors from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, promoting the spirit of creativity and design to different sectors of the community to foster a local creative culture. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the three founders of the Musketeers Foundation, Mr Stanley Chu, Mr Lawrence Fung and Mr Leong Ka-chai, for their financial commitment and effort to transform the PMQ into a hub for creative activities of pop culture and emerging artists, providing a platform not only for emerging entrepreneurs in the design and creative fields to start their business, but also for local and international design brands to showcase and sell their products and services. The PMQ has attracted over 20 million visitors over the past years, contributing to the creative and tourism industries of Hong Kong."
Many large-scale flagship creative events in Hong Kong had to be cancelled or postponed amid the COVID-19 epidemic over the past two years or so, dealing a heavy blow to the business of the PMQ tenants. The Government has, through multiple rounds of the Anti-epidemic Fund, rolled out different relief measures for the PMQ, including subsidising operation costs, creating time-limited positions in the PMQ, and waiving or reducing rentals payable by the PMQ tenants. During her visit to the PMQ, Mrs Lam toured several design studios and chatted with the tenants. She was pleased to learn that as Hong Kong had been moving steadily along the path to normalcy amid the epidemic, the PMQ had recently seen a gradual rise in the number of visitors and thus improvements to the business of its tenants.
"Heritage conservation is a key component of a high-quality city. The PMQ is one of the key projects under the Conserving Central initiative as proposed by me when I was the Secretary for Development. It was also one of the places I visited on the second day after I took office as the Chief Executive to attend the Heritage Vogueż’Hollywood Road street activity organised by the Development Bureau. With the close collaboration between the community, the business sector and the Government, various projects under the Conserving Central initiative have been completed to give new impetus to various revitalised buildings. Among them, the PMQ, the Central Police Station Compound (now Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts) and the Central Market have become landmarks of culture and art in the bustling city and are well received by both local people and visitors, showcasing the unique history and diverse culture of Hong Kong. I hope that the community, the business sector and the Government will continue to adopt a preservation-cum-development approach to turning Hong Kong into a better world city for living and travelling," said Mrs Lam.
Ends/Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:46
Issued at HKT 20:46
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