Letters | How Hong Kong can showcase its urban development with flair

Readers suggest moving Hong Kong’s City Gallery to Kai Tak, and urge the government to take action on cold calls

Reading Time:2 minutes

A woman takes a photo of a diorama of Kowloon Walled City is showcased at an exhibition at the Hong Kong Book Fair on July 14. An expanded gallery featuring the city’s urban development could be a tourist attraction. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 11:30am, 28 Aug 2024

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification

Next to Hong Kong City Hall stands City Gallery with five floors and gross floor area of 3,200 sq m. It is Hong Kong’s first exhibition hall focusing on urban planning and infrastructure development.

Across the globe, cities have exhibitions halls for urban planning and development. The Pavillon de l’Arsenal in Paris boasts a collection about the making of the city’s architecture and its cultural development. In China, various cities house their own galleries, for instance, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall in Huangpu and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Planning Exhibition (MOCAPE) in Futian, Shenzhen. These spaces serve as tourism, educational and public resources showcasing planning history and future development directions. They can also serve as a platform for national and civic education.

Compared to other Asian cities, Hong Kong has excelled in infrastructure projects such as those involving civil engineering, transport systems and renewable energy. Having evolved from a port city into a global financial centre, Hong Kong boasts inspiring stories. However, the current City Gallery does not seem to adequately represent the city’s achievements. The coming policy address should consider including plans to enhance the gallery.

Renovation and expansion would allow for better showcasing of Hong Kong’s urban and pop culture. As old districts undergo redevelopment, iconic cityscapes are disappearing along with old buildings and neon lights. The evolution of places like Kowloon Walled City, which has endured economic challenges and historical changes, could be highlighted as a compelling example.

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, built at a cost of HK$8.2 billion, has seen limited utilisation, with ships docking on only 15 days in January, down to two days in July. Its commercial spaces largely sit vacant. This underutilisation prompts the question of whether its vast 188,952 sq m space could be repurposed into a large-scale city gallery, perhaps combined with a pop culture museum.