Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (June 17):
 
Question:
 
     The National 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises its support for Hong Kong to develop into the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. There are views that museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) play a vital role in collecting, conserving and exhibiting collections, thereby ensuring the preservation of these endowments. However, it is learnt that since the COVID-19 pandemic, attendances at these museums have shown signs of slowing down, and there are disparities in popularity between the various museums. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the annual attendance of each museum under the LCSD since 2023 (set out in a table);
 
(2) of the respective latest progress of and timetable for setting up (i) a Pop Culture Centre and (ii) a museum to showcase the development and achievements of our country;
 
(3) as it is learnt that in recent years, Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have successively completed a number of sizeable and modern museums integrating the latest technology, of the specific strategies the Government will put in place to enhance the appeal and competitiveness of Hong Kong's museums in the future;
 
(4) of the resources the LCSD has devoted and plans to devote for promoting "smart museums" and the adoption of technologies such as AI and augmented reality to enhance museum exhibition experience, and the relevant details; and
 
(5) as it is learnt that most museums under the LCSD currently operate on a model where each museum curates its own exhibitions independently, whether the authorities will consider reorganising or optimising the existing management structure and mode of operation of museums to enhance the efficiency of cross-museum resource allocation and the appeal of museums?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
The reply to the question raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung is as follows:
 
(1) The attendance figures for museums and art spaces under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for the years 2023-24 to 2025-26 are set out in the table below: 
 

	Museum / Art Space	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
1	Hong Kong Museum of Art	1 558 365 (Note 1)	1 692 157 (Note 1)	1 272 647
2	Hong Kong Museum of History (Note 2)	586 073	943 534	1 102 108
3	Hong Kong Heritage Museum	766 916 (Note 1)	687 637 (Note 1)	596 109
4	Hong Kong Science Museum	1 351 783 (Note 1)	1 477 349 (Note 1)	1 066 657
5	Hong Kong Space Museum	1 022 633	1 026 404	917 046
6	Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence	168 016	160 740	174 722
7	Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum	89 656	9 007 (Note 3)	43 057 (Note 3)
8	Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery	62 275	62 903	83 082
9	Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware	94 888	96 255	104 691
10	Hong Kong Railway Museum	246 098	227 406	212 099
11	Law Uk Folk Museum	18 260	13 636	14 283
12	Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum	29 191	26 300	25 208
13	Sam Tung Uk Museum	103 718	141 570	148 207
14	Sheung Yiu Folk Museum	37 273	34 058	35 232
15	Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre	49 706	52 761	61 174
16	Oi!	719 109	916 001	873 454
17	Hong Kong Film Archive	96 407	95 683	104 491

Note 1: In 2024, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum each organised well received exhibitions (including exhibitions of art collections, exhibitions to mark the birth anniversaries of notable figures, as well as exhibitions and programmes themed on national achievements), resulting in higher attendance for that year. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum also organised a well received commemorative exhibition of a notable figure in 2023.
 
Note 2: The permanent exhibition has been closed since October 19, 2020, to facilitate upgrading works, and has been reopened in phases with effect from November 27, 2024.
 
Note 3: The venue was closed from May 1, 2024, to November 6, 2025, to optimise the design and display content of the permanent galleries, and to carry out repair and improvement works.
 
(2) The Pop Culture Centre is currently in the site selection phase. Once the location is confirmed, we will consult with various stakeholders and expert advisors on its long-term planning, curatorial direction, and exhibition content to develop an appropriate plan to establish the centre as a cultural landmark and tourist attraction.
      
     The museum showcasing the development and achievements of our country will be located in the Kwu Tung North New Development Area of the Northern Metropolis. The Architectural Services Department is conducting feasibility studies for the construction project, and we are simultaneously discussing the curation of the museum with relevant national museums actively.
 
(3) Museums under the LCSD are committed to preserving, researching, and displaying Hong Kong's diverse cultural resources, including history, art, science, film, intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and pop culture. Building on Hong Kong's distinctive East-meets-West cultural character and its international connections as important foundations for enhancing appeal and competitiveness, efforts are made to strengthen the quality and influence of Hong Kong's museums through exhibition planning, enhancement of visitor experience, application of technology, integration of culture and tourism, as well as regional and international collaboration.
 
     In terms of exhibitions and visitor experience, the LCSD will continue to organise large-scale and representative thematic exhibitions, introducing important collections and exhibits from the Chinese Mainland and overseas while making full use of local collections. More cross-museum exhibitions and activities tailored to the unique positioning and strength of individual museums will also be commissioned at the same time. For example, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is currently hosting Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West, which brings together over 100 selected artworks and artifacts for the first time in Hong Kong from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palace of Versailles in France, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, fully demonstrating and leveraging Hong Kong's important role as a window for cultural exchange between Eastern and Western civilisations. The LCSD will also continuously enhance its curatorial approach, educational activities, and interactive experiences, while enhancing the use of new technologies and social media to attract residents and tourists of all ages.
 
     Regarding integration of culture and tourism, the LCSD actively promotes the integrated development of culture, creativity, sports, and tourism. Different museums, cultural venues, ICH projects and community resources will be connected to support the planning of large-scale cultural events that appeal to both residents and tourists, including the Chinese Culture Festival, Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, Hong Kong ICH Month, and Muse Fest HK. Through the international platform of the Museum Summit, efforts will be made to enhance the international influence and attractiveness of Hong Kong's museums, further leveraging their role in enriching visitors' cultural experiences and promoting cultural-tourism integration.
 
     LCSD museums will also continue to strengthen collaboration with Chinese Mainland and overseas museums in exhibitions, collections, academic research, and talent development. By combining the rich historical and cultural resources of the Chinese Mainland with Hong Kong's international networks and multicultural perspectives, Hong Kong's role as East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange will be further enhanced. For example, the 4th Museum Summit held in March 2025 brought together over 30 cultural leaders and professionals from renowned museums and institutions across 17 countries, as well as over 40 museum professionals from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Museum Alliance and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with over 7 000 registered participants sharing valuable professional experience, research findings, and innovative ideas.
 
(4) When planning exhibitions, LCSD museums have always actively explored the feasibility of applying innovative technologies and AI, taking into account the exhibition theme and venue conditions, to enhance curation quality and visitor experience. The "Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People's Republic of China in Its 75 Years" exhibition series, held from September 2024 to February 2025, featured a core theme of AI in its Era of Intelligence exhibition, aiming to popularise AI knowledge among the public through interactive exhibits that allow visitors to directly experience how technology integrates into daily life.
 
     The Hong Kong Science Museum launched its AI Gallery and Living Tech Gallery in February this year, combining generative AI and deep learning technologies to showcase AI's integration with culture, art and science through interactive exhibits such as painting, music composing, chess playing, and rock-paper-scissors, enhancing the fun of science education. Additionally, current exhibitions such as The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Prosperity and Magnificence-Civilisation of the Sui and Tang Dynasties in Shaanxi Province at the Hong Kong Museum of History, Proudly from Canton: The Muwen Tang Collection of Cantonese and Export Art at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum all apply AI, augmented reality, and virtual reality technologies to create interactive exhibits, enriching the visitor experience.
 
(5) The Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development proposes to integrate and optimise the overall planning of museums, and to highlight their respective characteristics, content and positioning. In this connection, the Chinese Culture Promotion Office (CCPO), established in 2024, is responsible for co-ordinating museums and other venues under the purview of the LCSD relating to Chinese culture, promoting cross‑museum and cross‑disciplinary collaboration, and planning thematic exhibitions, educational activities, performing arts programmes, exchanges and co‑operation relating to Chinese culture, including two signature projects, namely the annual Chinese Culture Festival and the General History of China Exhibition Series co-organised with the Hong Kong Museum of History. Starting from 2025, the CCPO, in collaboration with various museums, has organised annual exhibitions on national development and achievements, taking themes such as history, ICH and technological development as entry points to introduce the latest developments of the country in various fields. The CCPO will continue to further promote Chinese history and culture in the community.
 
     In addition, the highlight programme held during this year's Hong Kong ICH Month - The Journey of the Horse: A Legacy of Arts and Culture light show - integrates ICH and astronomical elements through collection items from various museums under the LCSD for the first time, and is currently being projected onto the dome façade of the Hong Kong Space Museum, fully demonstrating and putting into practice the concepts of inter-museum collaboration and the integration of culture and tourism.
      
     Held annually in November, Muse Fest HK leverages the 17 museums and art spaces under the LCSD as a foundation. Under the theme Hong Kong H.A.S. Museums (History, Art and Science), the festival promotes cross-museum and cross-disciplinary integration to offer a rich and diverse array of programmes. While showcasing the distinct and fascinating collections of individual museums, it also introduces the unique cultural history and vibrant artistic landscape of Hong Kong to both local citizens and visitors, effectively linking museums across various districts into an interconnected urban network for exploration.

Ends/Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:32

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