From Hot Kitchen to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, the first female general and Hong Kong-made Chief Executive Officer Fung Cheng Shu-yi officially took the helm for eight months, and the Forbidden City is about to open.
She gave an exclusive interview to the media for the first time, looking back on the past controversy over the Forbidden City. As a member of the "core group" who participated in the secret negotiation for the establishment of the museum, Feng Cheng Shuyi was convinced that she was right in the past. Although there were many turmoils during this period, it is a great comfort to witness her debut as scheduled.
Transitioning to the West Kowloon Superintendent, she said that there are still many key tasks in the future, including rushing out of Hong Kong for promotion, and making the West Kowloon financially stable, "We need to let the people of Hong Kong see that we are an asset, not a burden. ”
▼June 7th.
The West Kowloon Cultural District announced the opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum on July 2▼
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On the eve of Christmas Eve in 2016, the then Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Authority, Carrie Lam, and the then Director of the Palace Museum, Shan Jixiang, signed a cooperation agreement in Beijing, officially launching the Hong Kong Palace Museum project.
(Photo from the Government News Network)
On the eve of Christmas Eve in 2016, the then Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Carrie Lam, suddenly signed a memorandum of cooperation at the Palace Museum in Beijing, announcing the implementation of the construction of the museum, which also meant that the original large-scale performance venue was stillborn. .
The news shocked the whole of Hong Kong, and the social reaction was polarized, including dissatisfaction that the Hong Kong government had not consulted the public beforehand.
The Forbidden City in Beijing is said to be "distinguished" and chooses to cooperate with Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Palace Museum has been finalized to open next Wednesday (22nd) and to the public on July 2nd.
Looking back at the beginning, Fung Cheng Suk-yi, a member of the "Five-member Core Group" who was involved in the preparation of the museum, affirmed, "I think the insistence at the time was correct."
She described the announcement as a thunderbolt on the ground, and she and Carrie Lam were also surprised that there was no leak and no water leaked beforehand.
She continued to point out that the initial public response was good, "then the social atmosphere was not good, and I wore tinted glasses to people related to the country, and then there were some turmoil", but the Hong Kong government immediately conducted consultations and polls within a few months. If it is dealt with in a timely manner, there are also sectors that support the construction of the Forbidden City in Hong Kong.
Many provinces and cities want to open a branch of the Forbidden City, and it is rare to have a discerning eye. The Forbidden City also has the support of the central government when it chooses us.
Fung Shing Shuk Yee, Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Looking back at the past controversy at the Forbidden City, Feng Cheng Shuyi affirmed, "I think the persistence of the year was correct."
(Photo by Luo Junhao)
Feng Cheng Shuyi was transferred to the Director of the Innovation Office from 2018 to 2020. During her absence, she was often "concerned". "When she has time, she will ask questions and intimidate (the curator of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, who was also a member of the core group at the time) Wu Zhihua has made a point, remember. Please bury me at the opening.” She said with a smile that she was seconded to West Kowloon by the government at the end of 2020. “I originally thought of living in retirement, but during a period of time, the West Kowloon Authority asked me if I would like to stay. Low, my only wish is to watch the opening of the Forbidden City, and I'm so nervous about whether I can do it, because the time is really short, and now it's finally opening, which is very comforting." She also said that she has experienced many turmoils in the past five years. During the epidemic, many workers were diagnosed and the arrival of special showcases in Hong Kong was delayed.
Will not leave the post early
Soon after taking office, she has witnessed the opening of the two museums and fulfilled her wishes, but she has not yet "completed her merits". Although Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who she once worked with, is about to step down, she will fulfill her contract until 2024.
I will continue to watch (West Kowloon), and the opening of the museum is the first step. To become known to the world and visitors want to visit, I have a lot of work.
Fung Shing Shuk Yee, Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
During her early years as the Director of Leisure and Cultural Affairs, she facilitated the electronic version of "Across the River During Qingming Festival" to be exhibited in Hong Kong, and the Picasso thematic exhibition was also a big hit. The Permanent Secretary, who oversees the progress of the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District, has now "replaced" and found that there is no shortage of exhibition venues, but the source of funding is the most troublesome.
In 2010, the electronic dynamic version of "Across the River During Qingming Festival" arrived in Hong Kong and was exhibited at the AsiaWorld-Expo.
(Photo from the Government News Network)
Prepare a two-day, one-night package with the travel industry
She said that after the epidemic has stabilized and customs clearance, the first job is to promote it to the outside world. She doesn't mind going to the mainland to promote it one by one province and city. She will also wave to compatriots in the Greater Bay Area.
She also revealed that she is working with the tourism industry to launch a two-day, one-night package to attract tourists to visit museums and enjoy performances in West Kowloon.
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She also hopes that any financial stability of the West Kowloon will make it self-financing in the long run. "As the chief executive, I don't want to spend a lot of money every day." West Kowloon received a one-off investment of 21.6 billion yuan from the Hong Kong government in the early years, but recently publicly stated that The "dry pond" is about to be "dry pond". Unlike last year's announcement that he would apply for funding, the chairman of the board of directors, Tang Yingnian, changed his words this year. Feng Chengshuyi pointed out that she knew that the financial burden of the Hong Kong government was heavy. The bureau discussed that the repayment period of West Kowloon’s external loan is until March 2025, and it can still be met at this stage. Self-improvement to fulfill the cultural mission of the Hong Kong government:
First, you can ask the government for resources. In the past, the project was slow, and the people of Hong Kong had to see it. We are an asset, not a burden.
Fung Shing Shuk Yee, Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Feng Cheng Shuyi revealed that she is working with the travel industry to launch a two-day, one-night package to attract tourists to visit museums and enjoy performances in West Kowloon.
(file picture)
She mentioned that she would make good use of the land resources in the cultural zone, including the research on the reorganization planning for the ACE project that had withdrawn the tender. She pointed out that the package itself was not attractive, and it was born at an untimely time. In the midst of the epidemic, offices, hotels and exhibitions The construction of the center is poorly understood.
Unlike previous CEOs, Feng Cheng Shuyi also drastically reduced staff during her tenure. She said that she was lucky, and the museum opened soon after taking office, but she said that it is not easy to reduce the pain of manpower and expenses. Consider exploring the direction of commercial leasing of venues.
▼The Hong Kong Palace Museum opens on July 2 and will see some national first-class cultural relics and treasures▼
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Feng Cheng Shuyi was seconded to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in December 2020 and acted as the chief executive officer, replacing Duncan Warren Pescod who resigned early. After the six-month term expired, she officially joined the West Kowloon Cultural District in October 2021. Nine "sit upright" for a three-year term.
Before Feng Cheng Shuyi left the government, she was the director of the Policy Innovation and Coordination Office and was the most senior D8 administrative officer.
The opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum | Self-financing tickets are difficult to free Feng Cheng Shuyi: If you want to see good things, you want to give money to the Hong Kong Palace Museum Opening | 7.2 Open to the outside world with a standard ticket of 50 yuan for free admission every Wednesday in the first year of the Hong Kong Palace Museum opening | A copy of the Northern Song Dynasty debuts at the opening of the Forbidden City in Hong Kong｜Visit the whole museum at 120 yuan, the highest among the three Forbidden City in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at a glance