Hong Kong Palace Museum to open for 25th anniversary of city’s return to Chinese rule
- City leader Carrie Lam says museum will open on ‘important day’, but stops short of saying if Chinese President Xi Jinping will officiate event
- Association of more than 300 Hong Kong artists to organise 13 events to commemorate 25th anniversary of handover
The Hong Kong Palace Museum, modelled after its famous counterpart in Beijing, will open on an “important day” as part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the handover, the city’s leader has revealed.
But Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor did not say if Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to visit Hong Kong to oversee the inauguration of the city’s next administration on July 1, will also officiate the opening of the museum.
Attending an event at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on Thursday, Lam recalled the venue was gifted by Beijing five years ago to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.
“This project was launched on June 29, 2017, when President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Hong Kong government and the Beijing Palace Museum,” she said.
“As the proponent of this project, I’m very excited that this museum will be opened as scheduled on the important day when Hong Kong celebrates the 25th anniversary of its return [to Chinese rule].”
Lam also thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for donating HK$3.5 billion (US$446 million) to sponsor the construction and founding of the museum. About HK$260 million of the money will also go towards the museum’s operations, she added.