No reason for Hong Kong to reject Palace Museum treasures

Bernard Chan says while the way Beijing handles a project may rankle some people, the addition of world-class artefacts to the West Kowloon arts hub will enrich the city

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Bowls from the Tongzhi period (1862-1874) are displayed at the “Ceremony and Celebration – The Grand Weddings of the Qing Emperors” exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. These and other exhibits on show are selected from the Palace Museum collection. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 1:20pm, 5 Jan 2017Updated: 7:34pm, 5 Jan 2017

There is a Chinese phrase about blowing on fur to try and find something wrong with it (chui mao qiu ci). For example, Hong Kong is offered a unique opportunity: to have its own Palace Museum, containing treasures from Beijing’s Palace Museum – the Forbidden City. The response from many politicians and commentators is to complain, notably about a lack of public consultation.

As a member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority board, appointed just last November, I agree that this was a fairly sudden announcement.

This project – to mark the 20th anniversary of reunification – relies heavily on cooperation with the central authorities. Under their system, preparatory work is secret, and a public announcement comes after. This is the norm in Beijing: I am also a delegate to the National People’s Congress, and I am used to seeing agendas only shortly before meetings.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam attends the opening of the “Ceremony and Celebration – The Grand Weddings of the Qing Emperors” exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, in November last year. The plan to build a branch of the Palace Museum in Hong Kong is already being used as a political weapon against Lam, who may run for the post of chief executive. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

At best, putting this plan before the Legislative Council would add years to the process. (Even without the Palace Museum, the West Kowloon project will take at least another 15 years to finish.) At worst, it would become a political weapon for people looking for a chance to insult Beijing as an end in itself.

In fact, it is already being used as a political weapon – against Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who may run for the post of chief executive.

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