Reasons Behind the Closure of Hong Kong's Bruce Lee Museum

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bruce Lee Museum, a popular pilgrimage site for fans of the martial arts legend, officially closed on July 1, 2025. Fans and cultural heritage activists in Hong Kong have expressed regret over the closure of the Bruce Lee Club-managed museum due to high operating costs.

As reported by Hong Kong FP, the Bruce Lee Museum has a collection of about 2,000 Bruce Lee-related artifacts, including vintage magazines, iconic statues, and film memorabilia. Initially established in the bustling Yau Ma Tei area in 2001, it was temporarily closed in 2016 due to a rent increase, before relocating to the Kwun Tong industrial area and reopening.

However, according to an official statement from the Bruce Lee Club, various factors, such as major demonstrations in Hong Kong and the ongoing pandemic, have thwarted the museum's long-term plans. “We anticipated a recovery, yet reality fell short,”  they wrote. “The accumulated expenses over these six years have compelled us to rethink how to most effectively utilise our resources to sustain the flame of Bruce Lee’s spirit.”

Although Hong Kong often holds temporary exhibitions to commemorate Bruce Lee, no successful long-term initiatives have been established to create a permanent center for celebrating his cultural heritage. The Bruce Lee Club, established by Lee's family, acknowledged their limitations in continuing the physical management of the museum.

Bruce Lee Club Chairman Wong Yiu-Keung stated that the Hong Kong government lacks a long-term, sustainable plan for preserving Lee's legacy.

History of the Museum and Bruce Lee's Residence

The closure of this museum adds to the long list of failures in preserving Bruce Lee's legacy. According to the Bangkok Post, Bruce Lee's last residence in Kowloon, dubbed "The Crane's Nest," was also demolished to be turned into a center for Chinese cultural studies. Many fans had long campaigned for the building to be turned into a permanent museum.

The two-story building suffered severe structural damage according to a consultant's report in 2024, and was estimated to require renovation costs of around HK$20 million. Ultimately, the property owner's foundation chose to demolish the structure and build a new one. Some heritage elements such as colorful mosaics and original windows were preserved.

Profile of Bruce Lee

As reported by Britannica, Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco on November 27, 1940, but was raised in Hong Kong, surrounded by the film and performing arts industry as his father was an opera singer and actor. From a young age, he starred in films and was known as a troublemaker who often got involved with street gangs.

Lee was sent to the United States at the age of 18 to escape street violence. He settled in Seattle, where he continued his education and developed his interest in philosophy and drama. He also opened a martial arts school and developed a unique technique called Jeet Kune Do, a combination of kung fu, boxing, fencing, and Eastern philosophy.

Bruce Lee's popularity soared after appearing in the TV series The Green Hornet (1966-67) as Kato. His name skyrocketed when he became the first Asian action film star in Hollywood, starring in movies such as Enter the Dragon and The Way of the Dragon. These films created a wave of global kung fu film trends.

Unfortunately, Bruce Lee's career was cut short. He passed away suddenly on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32. However, in that short time, he managed to reshape the image of Asians in the eyes of the Western world: strong, dignified, and meaningful.

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