Authorities may make changes to a HK$500,000 government-funded white rose installation amid comments the display resembled flowers in a funeral hall, a Hong Kong district councillor has said.
Jack Cheung, a Kwun Tong district councillor, said on Commercial Radio on Thursday that he knew the Home Affairs Department and the installation’s contractors were in discussion.
“[They]… know citizens feel this way,” Cheung said, speaking in Cantonese. “I think they will make some minor tweaks.”
The district councillor’s radio appearance came after social media comments that the new artificial flower display outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre in Ngau Tau Kok, which authorities said cost HK$500,000, was reminiscent of funeral tributes. Cheung said the installation would be in place for at least three months, perhaps longer if it proved popular.
Photos circulated of the installation on Wednesday, consisting of rows of LED roses that were white in the day, when they were not switched on. At night, the flowers were lit up in blue.
Online, people made comments that the display in the day was haunting, resembling flowers in memorial halls or placed by tombstones.
Some joked that the flowers were a reminder that Ching Ming Festival, a public holiday for honouring the dead, was approaching.
The installation was covered with green canvas and fenced off on Wednesday night.
It was meant to be officially unveiled next Tuesday. But citing sources, local media outlets reported that it would be delayed.
In response to HKFP, the Home Affairs Department said the display was “still in the works.” The Kwun Tong District Office under the department, as well as contractors, were following up on the installation and its “visual effect in the day and at night.”
‘Photo-taking landmark’
The flower installation is part of the government’s effort to set up photo spots around the city. Chief Executive John Lee said in his Policy Address last year that each of Hong Kong’s 18 districts would be given funding to propose a “distinctive photo-taking landmark.”
The project is overseen by the Home Affairs Department’s District Youth Community Building Committees.
Cheung, the district councillor, said on the radio show that the installation outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre was originally meant to feature both real flowers and LED flowers. But after considering that real flowers would be “harder to handle,” the authorities opted for a display of entirely LED flowers.
When asked if he agreed that the white flowers resembled funeral tributes, Cheung said: “I don’t really have this feeling, frankly speaking. When looking at art… everyone will have different views.”
“Maybe some people are more traditional. Personally, I don’t think it’s a problem,” he added.
Cheung added that a similar flower installation was set up at Tamar Park in 2016. The week-long display was an overseas stop for a South Korean art installation called Light Rose Garden.
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
