The idea of turning the former Kowloon Tong home of Bruce Lee into a museum to celebrate the actor's life and work has been floated for years. Yet little ever comes of it. This drawn-out affair exposes the woeful inadequacy of the government's policies for encouraging the preservation of sites of historical significance or which loom large in the collective memory but which are not certified as having heritage value.
More than any other Chinese star, Lee's charismatic appeal cut across cultures and made him a genuinely international superstar. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the kung fu legend's death. Last month billionaire philanthropist Yu Panglin disclosed he is selling five residential lots in Hong Kong - including Lee's former home - and assets in Shenzhen to raise funds for victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Unless the 86-year-old entrepreneur can be persuaded to help preserve the building, it will probably be lost to redevelopment. While Mr Yu's idea is admirable, it should be pointed out that with donations pouring in, the money lost if Lee's home was not sold would be negligible in comparison.
In cases such as Lee's former home, it is usually not feasible or justifiable for the government to buy these sites. However, it should have a policy in place to encourage site owners to preserve them. It should do so while fully respecting private property rights. Mr Yu's commitment to the community is beyond doubt; over the years, he has donated tens of millions of dollars to various worthy causes. At the moment, the government offers tax breaks, subsidies and free expert consultation for owners of heritage sites who agree to preserve them. This policy should be extended to other sites that are of social and historical significance, such as Lee's former residence.
So far we have only a statue in Tsim Sha Tsui's Avenue of Stars to honour the star. In 2005 the Bosnian city of Mostar unveiled a statue of Lee to commemorate him. It is discouraging that his hometown does not have a permanent place to celebrate his life and art. The government needs to devise a more proactive policy to encourage site owners and philanthropists such as Mr Yu to preserve their properties for a good cause.
