A government assessment yesterday called for a series of measures to run public museums efficiently and also highlighted deficiencies in the development of the museums as well as their performance.

The report by the Director of Audit recommended that the government establish a museum board to govern and oversee all public museums, and that Hong Kong should reset performance indicators as well as look for alternative sources of income and cost reduction.

The report said that a museum board could "coordinate the overall development of public museums," helping to resolve other such current problems in the absence of a long-term development plan.

"On the mode of governance and strategic planning of the public museums in the future, the Committee on Museums is currently deliberating on the issues," wrote a Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesperson in an email message.

"It is expected to present its recommendations to the Government by the end of this year. We would carefully consider its recommendations in formulating the strategy and working out the improvement measures."

The LCSD currently manages 14 museums altogether, including the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Space Museum.

The idea of establishing a museum board is not new. The LCSD, which provides various leisure and cultural services in the city, made the same recommendation in 2003.

Foreign experience

Various countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, have set up a governing body to oversee museum operations. The British Museum is overseen by trustees.

These countries also have specific legislation on museum governance, something the Director of Audit felt worth considering for Hong Kong.

In 2004-2005, the total expenditure for all museums managed by the LCSD was HK$368.8 million. Of these 14 museums, the 32,000-square-metre Hong Kong Heritage Museum, registered the highest total expenditure at HK$74.5 million.

According to the LCSD figures, from 2000 to 2003 both the total number of exhibitions and visitors in public museums rose each year. From 2003 to 2004, however, overall attendance dropped slightly.

Recommending that performance indicators be adjusted, the report noted that museums did not pursue additional income aggressively. It also suggested that electricity consumption could be lowered and even offered suggestions on what to do about the gift shop.

The report stated that "more meaningful and useful performance indicators" should be developed, preferably using overseas practice as a benchmark.

LCSD museums also could do more beyond attracting visitors to bring in money. Not enough has been done to encourage cash donations, and museums could also seek commercial sponsorships or look for opportunities to rent out its facilities.

Besides, museums had 209,046 unsold publications - valued at HK$24.7 million -67 percent of which are five years or older.

The LCSD spokesperson said: "The department will review the museums' operation manuals and will tighten control and management of collection items. It will make efforts to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in daily operation. The Department will also take steps to enhance corporate partnership and to explore more revenue generating opportunities, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance public museum services."

(China Daily HK Edition April 28, 2006)