Legco funding delays could scuttle revitalisation of Haw Par Mansion as music education centre

A major project to revitalise Hong Kong's historic Haw Par Mansion and open it to the public as a music education hub is in danger of collapse because of a possible funding hold-up at the Legislative Council by filibustering lawmakers.

Work has been under way for two years to convert the grade-one historic building into a music-themed heritage and arts education centre by 2017.

But completion hinged on the approval of HK$165 million in funding by Legco's Finance Committee before the summer break, said Roger Wu Tsan-sum, CEO of the Haw Par Music Foundation, which oversees the initiative.

"Without the funds to upgrade the mansion, we will have to delay the launch in the third quarter of 2017 for up to a year," said the Hong Kong-born, UK-trained architect.

"But we will most likely review the entire project by taking into consideration the prevailing atmosphere of Hong Kong to decide whether or not it is economically viable to go ahead."

Wu said the project had already been reviewed after last year's Occupy movement, which led to a decline in sponsorship for non-profit organisations because of uncertainties in the society that affected some donors.

"If what we do is not bearing fruit, we will initiate the closure process before it turns into [a financial] crisis," he said, citing spiralling construction costs.