So Close, And Yet So Far
Kung fu film legend Bruce Lee's old address, number 41 Cumberland Road, is now home to Romance Hotel. And yes, it is a love hotel.
Son Of Hong Kong
Born in San Francisco in 1940, Bruce Lee's family moved to Hong Kong a year later.
"Lee's first three movies for Golden Harvest [a Hong Kong film company], The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and Way of the Dragon, made him a superstar within two years. Each of them broke Hong Kong box-office records." Bruce Lee is "the man Hong Kong's film industry has to thank for its now global reach," the Guardian commented. "It's safe to say Lee's funeral was the Hong Kong equivalent of Princess Diana's."
It also seems safe to say that Bruce Lee is part of Hong Kongers' collective memory.
But the memory has not been well preserved in the city where he spent most of his life.
"There Is A Moral Dimension."
Lobbying for the establishment of Hong Kong Bruce Lee Museum has been fruitless.
It is not entirely clear why the Hong Kong government, which pledges to build more museums to make Hong Kong a "world class metropolis" and boost tourism, has long ignored this sound advice.
A Bruce Lee Museum which is "truly Hong Kong" would be much cheaper than a soulless Disneyland. And it sounds like a good business than spending millions of dollars on ridiculous PR campaign like the Hong Kong Dragon.
It is said by some opponents, who may represent the Hong Kong government's view, that there is a moral dimension: Bruce Lee did not have a respectable private life. Of course, Mickey Mouse is a saint.
Imperfect Market
But how to explain the absence of a private museum dedicated to Bruce Lee? After all, Hong Kong is famous for its small government.
"Hong Kong people seem to be stuck with the misconception that museums must be huge, like the Louvre," Man Cheung, who founded a private museum in Hong Kong, told the Weekend Standard. "Hong Kong culture won't have much of a future if we don't embrace and develop smaller local museums".
Statue Of Bruce Lee
Until November 2005, the only visible monument to Bruce Lee in Hong Kong is the waxwork in the local Madame Tussauds.
Hong Kong's Bruce Lee club originally intended to set up a Bruce Lee Museum but did not have enough money or an appropriate venue. The club has decided to fund a bronze statue to be unveiled in November 2005 to mark the legend's 65th birthday.
The two-metre high statue will be on public display in the Avenue of Stars, modelled on Hollywood's Walk of Fame!
Bruce Lee In Hong Kong:
Hong Kong Avenue of Stars
Hong Kong Film Archive
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
Where can i find Bruce Lee poster in Hong Kong, i been mongkok, jordon & tsimshatsui can not be find as i want to purchase one for my friend who come from UK.
Posted by: Alan | May 08, 2007 at 12:49 PM
BRUCE LEE DER BESTE KUNG FU FIGHTER ALLER ZEITEN
Posted by: MUSTAFA ATAC | May 22, 2007 at 02:24 AM
DANN KOMMT BRUCE 2 LEE YOUTUBE
Posted by: MUSTAFA ATAC | May 22, 2007 at 02:28 AM
Lets set up our own Bruce Lee museum in Hong Kong . How much to buy his house ?
Posted by: Shirley Gillespie-Smith | November 25, 2007 at 09:19 AM
I have set up a group on facebook that urges the Hong Kong government to preserve Bruce Lee's home and turn it into some sort of monument or Bruce Lee museum.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31445569120
Please spread the word and unite against the possible tearing down of Bruce Lee's house in Hong Kong.
Posted by: Peer, Norway | July 02, 2008 at 05:13 PM