Trust fund proposed for Bruce Lee museum

A trust fund chaired by the Commissioner for Tourism should take over the ownership and management of Bruce Lee's residence and future memorial museum complex, its owner proposed yesterday.

Billionaire philanthropist Yu Panglin and Bruce Lee Club consultant Michael Tien Puk-sun put the proposal to Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma Si-hang at a meeting yesterday. They said that in the long run the complex should be self-sufficient.

Mr Yu said the meeting - attended by Commissioner for Tourism Au King-chi, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Yvonne Choi Ying-pik and the secretary general of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Wellington Fung Wing - went smoothly and he felt they had a good chance of getting government support.

Mr Tien said the trust fund would own Lee's last home, at 41 Cumberland Road, and it would be best to get the government involved to ensure the viability of the project.

On Monday, Mr Yu announced he had decided to donate the 5,000 sq ft villa, which is now a love hotel, as a museum and wanted to build an extra 25,000 sq ft to include a cinema, museum, library and kung fu centre.

But the additional structure would have to be approved by the Town Planning Board. Mr Tien said Mr Yu was open to suggestions but if what the board approved was too far from his ideal, he would consider taking back the site.