Welfare group wants to preserve artefacts from one of Hong Kong's oldest districts
The 80-year-old Blue House in Wan Chai will be turned into a museum recreating scenes from one of the city's oldest districts, if a proposal by St James' Settlement is approved by the government.
The welfare agency has so far collected about 400 old items, donated by current and former residents, for display in the museum.
It also plans to team up with hotels and the Tourism Board to organise tours to the museum to promote tourism and generate income for the agency and local residents.
Michael Lai Kam-cheung, chief executive of St James' Settlement, said the agency was awaiting approval from the Lands Department to open a 'Wan Chai livelihood museum' in a vacant unit on the ground floor of the Blue House, on Stone Nullah Lane. The four-storey tenement house, one of the district's historical landmarks, belongs to the government and has been identified for preservation.
The charity also plans to open a souvenir shop and a tea house inside the museum.
According to St James' Settlement, the Housing Society has agreed to provide financial support for the museum's renovation.
