Carrie Lam defends plan for HK$3.5 billion Palace Museum over transparency concerns

Hong Kong’s No 2 official on Monday dismissed concerns about a lack of transparency over the city’s HK$3.5 billion deal to build its own version of Beijing’s celebrated Palace Museum, saying it would be “embarrassing” if a public consultation threw up opposition to it.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was on the defensive as she announced that she would cut short her Christmas holiday to fly to Beijing for the second time in a week for official meetings on cultural exchanges. But she made clear she would not be meeting Beijing officials to discuss her widely expected bid for Hong Kong’s top job after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying opted out of seeking a second term.

“It is very difficult to conduct a public consultation because it involves the central government and the related ministries,” Lam said. “You can imagine that, if we were to ask the public if they wanted to have more exhibits from the Palace Museum more than half a year earlier, everyone should respond positively.

“But if more than half a year later, someone disagreed with it, it would be very embarrassing.”

Last Friday, Lam announced a surprise deal with Beijing to create a Hong Kong version of the Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Critics have questioned the lack of public consultation for the project, which will be fully funded by the Jockey Club and will not require the Legislative Council’s approval.