The extensive refurbishment of the Kom Tong Hall, following a public outcry over plans for its demolition, has taken a couple of years. The constant banging may have disturbed its Mid-Levels neighbours, of whom I am one, but the result is a gleaming edifice, and well worth the effort.
What was once a family home has been transformed into an institution, the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Museum. Such a transformation requires a deft hand, if the institutional aspect is not to overpower the experience of visiting what was built as a grand and stylish private house. Certainly, the wide array of exhibits gathered there, many on loan from elsewhere, make for an interesting experience.
But perhaps the hand of institutionalism has ranged too freely, in a couple of areas. The line of ghastly plastic potted plants alongside the stately wooden bannister on the main staircase adds nothing, but is ill-positioned, hampering access to the bannister rail. If they must be there, then at least give visitors more ready access to the bannister rail by lining them up against the wall, where there is no handrail. Better still, to get rid of them altogether.
The drawing room, by far the finest chamber in the building, has been lovingly reguilded and repainted. However, some institutional leaden hand has unfortunately agreed to the positioning of two huge and ugly air conditioning units, each as long as a car, on the floor at each end of the room, thus spoiling the proportions. That mistake is all the more glaring, since the room is otherwise completely empty. Why were they not positioned on the terrace, immediately adjoining? And why not furnish the room, rather than leave it bare?
The labelling of the exhibits elsewhere is rather patchy, to say the least. A coffee pot is described as a teapot on the label. But more amusingly, a pair of tiny salt cellars are described as salad bowls. Since each is not much more than an 2.5cm wide, very small salad servings must have been provided from them.
A house is meant to be entered from the main doorway. Here, entry and exit is via the basement, doubtless for reasons of crowd control. But visitors could, at least, be allowed to view the entrance hall by using it as an exit point.
These minor caveats aside, Hong Kong's historical and cultural wealth has been greatly enhanced by the preservation of this impressive old building, and its relaunch as a most interesting museum. Those who campaigned so hard to preserve it should be thanked by future generations of visitors.