After 27 years, the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) of The Smithsonian discreetly ended its collaboration with the Hong Kong government’s offices in the United States. It’s unclear why the change was made. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), the de facto official representative of the Hong Kong government in the U.S., did not explain; pro-democracy Hong Kong activists in the U.S. claimed that it was political. The museum claimed that the end of the partnership had to do with its focus on its centennial celebration programming, which is planned for this year.
The Hong Kong Economic Trade Office is not a current partner of the National Museum of Asian Art, and it is not looking for their assistance. On the occasion of our 100th anniversary, we are reviewing our partnerships and programming to make way for fresh perspectives and to honor artists from all around Asia, said Lori Duggan Gold, deputy director of the Washington institution, in an email to Artnet News through a publicist.
However, neither the HKETO nor they confirmed the dissolution of this relationship. In an email to Artnet News, it stated that its goal “has been to enhance economic, trade, investment, and arts and cultural relations between the United States and Hong Kong.” “Remaining faithful to this objective, the offices keep looking for ways to foster people-to-people exchanges and reinforce ties in a range of mutually beneficial areas,” it added.
The cooperation has come to an end as a measure calling for a review of the country’s recognition of the position in light of the city’s shifting political status was introduced to the U.S. congress last month. After the contentious national security statute was put into effect in 2020, the city lost its independence in the eyes of the US government. Following waves of pro-democracy protests in 2019, Beijing enacted the law.
The Washington D.C. museum and the HKETO have been partners for a while. They worked together primarily on the 27-edition “Made in Hong Kong” film festival, which featured Hong Kong cinema. An outdoor screening event was part of the latest edition, which took place in August 2022, but information about the programme is no longer available on the museum website. Pro-democracy groups were outraged by the programme and accused the museum of working with the city government to censor movies while they were being shown in Hong Kong.
A revised version of Hong Kong’s film censorship law was passed in 2021 to “safeguard national security,” effectively outlawing politically sensitive films. As a result of the national security law, it has been claimed that Hong Kong’s freedom of expression is now in danger.
