致香港文化體育及旅遊局局長楊潤雄先生的公開信 Open Letter to Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Secretary Kevin Yeung
香港文化體育及旅遊局
局長
楊潤雄先生
2023年12月18日
致香港文化體育及旅遊局楊潤雄局長：
關於遷移科學館及解散(整合)香港文化博物館的公開信
我們是一群深感關切香港文化命脈的市民、學者及文化工作者，現代表687位香港市民向閣下致函。對於最近 貴局提議遷移科學館以及解散(整合)香港文化博物館一事，我們深切認識到此舉不僅涉及博物館的遷移，更直接影響香港的文化遺產、城市發展與市民權益。
由12月9日至今，我們已獲得687位香港市民的聯署，代表我們對香港文化的深切關注。我們誠摯期望香港文化體育及旅遊局能夠積極回應此議題，並儘快消弭公眾的疑慮。
作為香港的學者、藝術家、文化機構代表以及市民，我們對政府解散(整合)香港文化博物館的計劃感到震驚並予以強烈譴責。根據過往特區政府處理天星碼頭及皇后碼頭的事例可見，現今政府的計劃難以令人信服這決定不會導致大量與香港文化相關的重要檔案和藝術品的丟失、損毀或於倉庫不見天日，對保護及傳承香港文化遺產構成重大威脅。
香港文化博物館一直在維護和展示我們社區多元文化遺產方面扮演著不可估量的角色。對於博物館潛在的關閉以及其藏品分散至其他機構的計劃，我們感到深切悲痛。香港市民應當享有接觸並深入了解自己文化和歷史的權利，有關計劃也將對廣大市民造成嚴重不公，長遠影響本地文化和歷史的保育工作。
我們堅信廢棄文化博物館的決定是相當不明智的。如果政府認為有需要興建一座新的博物館以慶祝中國的成就，我們敦促政府考慮一個不損害既有文化機構完整性的替代地點。
科學館一直是香港市民教育和探索的基石，未經慎重考慮便提出將之遷移，用於慶祝中國成就的提議，不僅損害了科學館的社會、文化和教育意義，還對社區構成嚴重負面影響。若政府確實認為需要興建一座慶祝中國成就的新展館，該計劃絕不應以破壞既有文化機構作為社會代價。
我們敦促閣下：
1. 正面回應： 請詳細說明遷移科學館和解散(整合)香港文化博物館的動機和背後的考量。
2. 公眾諮詢： 請進行全面、透明的公眾諮詢，以確保市民有發表意見和建議的機會。
3. 文化遺產保護： 請承諾保護香港的文化遺產，提出具體方案，確保計劃不會損害文物和檔案的保存，及展品被展出的機會。
4. 城市發展平衡： 請考慮文化博物館和科學館對香港城市發展的貢獻，並找到平衡點，滿足城市發展需求和文化保護的雙重目標。
我們相信，透過具體的行動回應市民聲音，香港政府能夠以負責任的態度對待香港寶貴的文化遺產。香港的文化遺產是屬於廣大市民的共同資產，任何影響這些共同資產的決定都應以最謹慎的態度看待，制定政策時也應深思熟慮，尊重香港人的文化與核心價值。
我們強烈呼籲香港政府重新考慮其計劃，與藝術和文化界進行透明的諮詢，並尋找新博物館的替代地點。我們相信，負責任且具包容性的方法對於維護香港文化景觀的活力和特色至為重要。
謝謝閣下撥冗閱讀，我們期盼見到一個能夠在繁榮發展同時，保留文化特色的香港。
此致
687位香港公民、學者及文化工作者
Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau
Secretary
Mr. YEUNG Yun Hung, Kevin, GBS, JP
December 18, 2023
Open Letter Regarding the Relocation of the Science Museum and
Disband ("Integrate") of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum
To the Secretary of the Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Mr Kevin Yeung,
We are a group of concerned citizens, scholars, and cultural workers deeply invested in Hong Kong's cultural vitality. We write on behalf of 687 Hong Kong citizens to express our views. Regarding the recent proposal by your department to relocate the Science Museum and disband ("integrate") the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, we understand that this not only involves the relocation of museums but also directly impacts Hong Kong's cultural heritage, urban development, and the rights of citizens.
From December 9 until now, we have obtained signatures from 687 Hong Kong citizens, representing our profound concern for Hong Kong's culture. We sincerely hope that the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department can actively address this issue and alleviate public concerns as soon as possible.
As scholars, artists, representatives of cultural institutions, and citizens of Hong Kong, we are shocked and strongly condemn the government's plan to disband ("integrate") the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Based on past cases such as the handling of the Star Ferry Pier and Queen's Pier by the SAR government, the current government's plan is not convincing, and this decision may lead to the loss, damage, or relegation to obscurity of a significant number of important records and artworks related to Hong Kong's culture, posing a major threat to the preservation and inheritance of Hong Kong's cultural heritage.
The Hong Kong Heritage Museum has played an immeasurable role in preserving and showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of our community. We feel profound sorrow for the potential closure of the museum and the dispersal of its collections to other institutions. Citizens of Hong Kong should have the right to access and deeply understand their own culture and history, and this plan will result in serious injustice to the general public, with long-term consequences for the conservation of local culture and history.
We firmly believe that the decision to abandon the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is unwise. If the government deems it necessary to build a new museum to celebrate China's achievements, we urge the government to consider an alternative location that does not compromise the integrity of existing cultural institutions.
The Science Museum has been a cornerstone for the education and exploration of Hong Kong citizens. The proposal to relocate it without careful consideration, for the purpose of celebrating China's achievements, not only damages the social, cultural, and educational significance of the Science Museum but also has serious negative consequences for the community. If the government indeed believes a new exhibition hall to celebrate China's achievements is needed, this plan should not come at the social cost of destroying existing cultural institutions.
We urge you to:
1. Provide a positive response: Please explain in detail the motivations and considerations behind the relocation of the Science Museum and the disbandment ("integration") of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.
2. Public consultation: Please conduct a comprehensive and transparent public consultation to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to express their opinions and suggestions.
3. Cultural heritage protection: Please commit to protecting Hong Kong's cultural heritage, propose specific plans to ensure the preservation of artefacts and archives, and provide opportunities for the exhibition of artefacts.
4. Balanced urban development: Please consider the contributions of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Science Museum to the urban development of Hong Kong and find a balance that meets the dual goals of urban development and cultural preservation.
We believe that through concrete actions in response to the voices of the people, the Hong Kong government can responsibly treat Hong Kong's precious cultural heritage. Hong Kong's cultural heritage belongs to the vast citizens as a common asset, and any decision affecting these common assets should be approached with the utmost caution. Policies should be carefully considered and respect the cultural values and core values of the people of Hong Kong.
We strongly urge the Hong Kong government to reconsider its plans, engage in transparent consultations with the arts and cultural sector, and find an alternative location for the new museum. We believe that a responsible and inclusive approach is crucial for maintaining the vibrancy and uniqueness of Hong Kong's cultural landscape.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We look forward to seeing a Hong Kong that can prosper and develop while preserving its unique cultural characteristics.
Sincerely,
687 Hong Kong citizens, scholars, and cultural workers
聯署人士/ Co-signers:
黃國才 Dr. Kacey Wong, Artist and Former Assistant Professor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
劉慧婷 Loretta Lau, Artist and Founder of NGO DEI
高志活 Jens Galschiøt, Artist and Founder of Art In Defence Of Humanism
陳樂行 Andrew Chan, Founder and former Convenor of Societas Linguistica Hongkongensis (SLHK).
張嘉莉 Clara Cheung, Former Hong Kong District Councillor
郭鳳儀 Anna Kwok, Executive Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council
梁嘉麗 Shirley Leung, Chief Editor of Photon Media
淋漓淋浪 Lumli Lumlong, Artist
郭子健 Daniel Tsz Kin Kwok, Former Hong Kong District Councillor and Founder of The Hong Kong Scots
劉珈汶 Carmen Lau, Former Hong Kong District Councillor and Co-founder of Hong Kong March
李俊威 Wilber Lee, Former District councillor of Yuen Long District
尤漢邦 Hon Pong YAU, Former Hong Kong District Councillor
黃台仰 Ray Wong, Founder of Freiheit für Hongkong e.V.
鄭文傑 Simon Cheng, Founder of Hongkongers in Britain
阿塗 AhTo, Artist
Lok Kan CHEUNG, Artist
Jeffrey Choy, Artist
Ricker Choi, Artist
Christine Chu, Activist
Ming Lo, Artist
Catherine Li, Artist
M. Lee, Scholar
Alric Lee, Cultural Worker
Rex Lee, Founder of HKersUnited and Activist
Kenneth YEUNG, PhD researcher of LCSP, Université de Paris
Vawongsir, Artist
N. To, Cultural Worker
Alex Woo, Cultural Worker
聯署機構/ Co-signing organizations:
NGO DEI 我地
Lady Liberty Hong Kong
New Yorkers Supporting Hong Kong
Hongkongers in Britain
The Hong Kong Scots
Scottish Hongkongers
Finnish Hongkongers
Hong Kong Committee in Norway
AfricaHongKongFrance (AHKF)
Hong Kong XR Museum
Le Comité pour la Liberté à Hong-Kong
Hong Kong Democracy Council
HKersUnited
Blossom Community HK CIC
Power to Hongkongers 香港思源
Hong Kongers in San Francisco Bay Area
We The Hongkongers
Students for Hong Kong
Northern California Hong Kong Club
Lion Rock Cafe