Star says it will take a miracle to keep antiques in HK
Vivienne Chow and Olga Wong 27 February 2009
The Development Bureau confirmed yesterday that possible sites had been identified for movie star Jackie Chan’s collection of antique houses, which he hopes to turn into a workshop and a tourist attraction.
The confirmation came as Chan continued to criticise the government’s slow reaction, which prompted him to donate the houses, together with his props and awards, to Singapore and possibly build a Jackie Chan museum there.
Chan said the government’s political and bureaucratic nature was to blame for his decision to hand the treasures to Singapore.
“I gave the Hong Kong government 10 years, and I have been begging the government,” Chan said yesterday after attending a Hong Kong International Film Festival press conference. “But too many consultations are required and the government has become too political - they are too afraid to be criticised and so they would rather do nothing.”
He admitted that the donation to Singapore was pretty much set, barring a miracle.
“I was really touched by the Singaporean government’s quick reaction,” he said. “If I give [the Hong Kong government] 10 days, or even a month, will they give me an answer? I don’t think so.
“In fact I’m really sorry for the Hong Kong government. I hope our government could be strong and sometimes, when they feel that something is right, they should just press ahead and save the time from doing too much consultation.”
A Development Bureau source confirmed yesterday that the Lands Department had identified two possible sites for the proposal and had informed the Tourism Commission of their location.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board said that it was still in conversation with Chan and would report his requirements to the government.
Tourism sector lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun said it would be “1,000 per cent a slap in the face” if Chan’s belongings were shipped to Singapore. “This could have been a tourist attraction for Hong Kong,” he said. “How is it possible for [these items] to be preserved in Singapore? What has Singapore got to do with Jackie? He’s been the tourism icon for Hong Kong for many years.”
Mr. Tse said Chan was a living icon and Hong Kong should protect such icons. “Mainland tourists love Hong Kong movie stars,” he said. “Even at the Avenue of Stars, although there isn’t much to see, the tourists like to take pictures and touch the handprints there.”
Mr. Tse said the talks with Chan should not be left to the tourism board. “The Tourism Board only takes orders, but you need the bureau to provide policy support for matters like this,” he said.
The financial secretary announced plans for a Development Opportunities Office on Wednesday, but Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday it would not entertain proposals requiring government sites.
“Proposals purely asking for sites from the government will not be considered, even if they are good ideas,” Mrs Lam said.
The office will provide a one-stop consultation service for private projects requiring approvals from the various relevant government departments. But the projects will still have to be approved by the bureaus concerned.
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Two sites identified for Jackie Chan’s houses
Star says it will take a miracle to keep antiques in HK
Vivienne Chow and Olga Wong
27 February 2009
The Development Bureau confirmed yesterday that possible sites had been identified for movie star Jackie Chan’s collection of antique houses, which he hopes to turn into a workshop and a tourist attraction.
The confirmation came as Chan continued to criticise the government’s slow reaction, which prompted him to donate the houses, together with his props and awards, to Singapore and possibly build a Jackie Chan museum there.
Chan said the government’s political and bureaucratic nature was to blame for his decision to hand the treasures to Singapore.
“I gave the Hong Kong government 10 years, and I have been begging the government,” Chan said yesterday after attending a Hong Kong International Film Festival press conference. “But too many consultations are required and the government has become too political - they are too afraid to be criticised and so they would rather do nothing.”
He admitted that the donation to Singapore was pretty much set, barring a miracle.
“I was really touched by the Singaporean government’s quick reaction,” he said. “If I give [the Hong Kong government] 10 days, or even a month, will they give me an answer? I don’t think so.
“In fact I’m really sorry for the Hong Kong government. I hope our government could be strong and sometimes, when they feel that something is right, they should just press ahead and save the time from doing too much consultation.”
A Development Bureau source confirmed yesterday that the Lands Department had identified two possible sites for the proposal and had informed the Tourism Commission of their location.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board said that it was still in conversation with Chan and would report his requirements to the government.
Tourism sector lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun said it would be “1,000 per cent a slap in the face” if Chan’s belongings were shipped to Singapore. “This could have been a tourist attraction for Hong Kong,” he said. “How is it possible for [these items] to be preserved in Singapore? What has Singapore got to do with Jackie? He’s been the tourism icon for Hong Kong for many years.”
Mr. Tse said Chan was a living icon and Hong Kong should protect such icons. “Mainland tourists love Hong Kong movie stars,” he said. “Even at the Avenue of Stars, although there isn’t much to see, the tourists like to take pictures and touch the handprints there.”
Mr. Tse said the talks with Chan should not be left to the tourism board. “The Tourism Board only takes orders, but you need the bureau to provide policy support for matters like this,” he said.
The financial secretary announced plans for a Development Opportunities Office on Wednesday, but Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday it would not entertain proposals requiring government sites.
“Proposals purely asking for sites from the government will not be considered, even if they are good ideas,” Mrs Lam said.
The office will provide a one-stop consultation service for private projects requiring approvals from the various relevant government departments. But the projects will still have to be approved by the bureaus concerned.
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