Hong Kong leader vows to protect freedom of expression after pro-Beijing lawmaker asks if new museum will threaten national security

New People’s Party vice-chairman Eunice Yung asks city’s leader during session in the legislature if officials will check whether artworks violate security law

Carrie Lam responds by saying cultural district operator can determine which works fall outside the category of artistic expression and the hub project has Beijing’s backing

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The M+ museum is slated to open at the end of the year. Photo: K.Y Cheng

Published: 8:01pm, 17 Mar 2021Updated: 10:45am, 19 Mar 2021

Freedom of expression will be protected in Hong Kong, the city’s leader has vowed after a pro-establishment lawmaker suggested authorities should check whether exhibits at the city’s soon-to-open flagship art museum “spread hatred against the country” or contravened the national security law.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also said she was confident the operators of the West Kowloon Cultural District, including the M+ museum, were capable of distinguishing works that constituted artistic expressions from ones that endangered national security.

Lam was speaking during Wednesday’s Legislative Council session, during which she was asked by Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, vice-chairman of the New People’s Party, to comment on reports the museum might display political sensitive art.

“Chief executive, would you ask departments to check whether these exhibits will contravene the national security law and the Basic Law?” Yung asked.

Eunice Yung, vice-chairman of the New People’s Party. Photo: Nora Tam

Lam replied that while officials must safeguard national security, “I think we can draw a line to separate what is the freedom of cultural and artistic creation, and what … [is] endangering national security. We will be particularly vigilant to look at this matter.”