Face Off: Should the Hong Kong Science Museum be moved to its new location in Sha Tin?
- Each week, two readers debate a hot topic in a showdown that does not necessarily reflect their personal viewpoints
- This week, they discuss whether the city’s Science Museum should be moved to a different location
The Hong Kong government has proposed moving the Hong Kong Science Museum to a new location in Sha Tin. Photo: May TseIf you are interested in joining future Face Off debates, fill out this form to submit your application.
For: Valerie Shek, 13, The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
The Hong Kong Science Museum has been a prominent hub for science exploration and education in the city for over three decades, not to mention a popular destination for school trips and tourists. However, it has become imperative to expand the attraction due to the number of visitors exceeding the museum’s capacity and signs of ageing infrastructure.
The current museum opened in 1991 and has limited space for what it can showcase. The current plot of land does not offer sufficient space for expansion, making relocation necessary to provide a better experience for visitors.
With more space, the museum could offer visitors a wider range of educational and eye-opening experiences.
The expanded floor plan in the proposed Sha Tin location would accommodate new exhibits and allow for improved visitor circulation, ensuring a more comfortable experience. Its current location would be the perfect space for a museum proposed by city leader John Lee that celebrates China’s achievements, allowing Hongkongers and tourists to learn more about and foster an appreciation for Chinese culture.
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Relocation would also be the ideal opportunity to create a more modern and technologically advanced environment for visitors. The new location can be designed with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, incorporating the latest advancements in museum design and technology. This would ensure visitors have access to a more immersive and engaging experience with interactive exhibits, eye-catching displays, and innovative educational tools.
Lastly, the proposed new location is currently being used for the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. While it attracted 451,000 visitors this past year, it fell short compared to the Hong Kong Science Museum, which drew in over 1.1 million visitors. It makes sense for the more popular museum to have more space.
The Science Museum holds a special place in our hearts, and I think it is time for it to get an upgrade, more than 30 years after opening.
Against: Vijay Narayanan, 15, Island School
Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has recently submitted a proposal to the Legislative Council calling for the museum to be moved to Sha Tin. The current site would be revamped and dedicated to a new institution showcasing China’s most significant achievements.
Meanwhile, the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin would close, forcing its collections to be relocated to other venues in the city.
While the proposal looks flashy on the surface, the move would involve many costs that would outweigh the benefits. Lingnan University Professor Lau Chi-pang has expressed concern over spending on multiple museums. As the city comes out of a devastating pandemic, we must prioritise education and healthcare. Relocating an infrastructural behemoth would raise important questions about the allocation of public funds.
We must also consider how moving the Heritage Museum would disrupt its exhibits and tourism appeal and jeopardise the preservation of Hong Kong history.
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Aside from the obvious monetary and infrastructural challenges the city would face trying to relocate one of its largest museums, the Heritage Museum preserves some of Hong Kong’s most important cultural and historical artefacts. Even if the Heritage Museum only saw around 45 per cent of the Science Museum’s attendance this past year, the greatest considerations for the museum are not its profit but rather how it will serve future generations.
As Hong Kong joins the rest of the world in the digital age, it must preserve its history – and the museum’s 350-seat theatre and six permanent galleries will serve that invaluable purpose. In contemplating the future of the Science Museum, we must strike a balance between progress and preservation.
While expansion can allow us to catch up with the museums on the mainland and other nations, we must consider the intangible benefits of preserving the city’s culture and legacies that shape its identity.