Chapter 371: Museum Opening and the Governor's Praise
Governor Sir Robert Black smiled and said, "Mr. Yang, the opening of the Hong Kong Museum is a major event for the territory. Of course we had to come."
"You're absolutely right, Governor," Yang Wendong replied with a smile, then extended his hand in a welcoming gesture. "Gentlemen, the museum opens to the public at ten o'clock. There will surely be a large crowd today, so let's head in early for a private tour—right now, only staff are inside."
The Hong Kong Museum had been widely promoted through media channels. After all, although it was a cultural institution, it also functioned as a commercial venture—it needed to generate revenue. Even if it wasn't expected to turn a huge profit, it had to at least be self-sustaining. Renting artifacts, maintaining relics, paying staff, utilities—it all cost money.
Sir Robert Black nodded. "Very well."
With that, the group entered the museum under the guidance of staff members.
The entrance hall featured several large-scale historical artifacts: a chariot from the Warring States period, a bronze cauldron from the Han dynasty, and a long sword from the Tang dynasty, among others.
There weren't many items on display, but each was significant in size and importance. All were encased in protective glass or surrounded by railings to prevent accidental damage.
Lining the side walls were panels that provided simple introductions and historical context about the respective dynasties associated with the artifacts.
A female staff member was also narrating stories about the relics and their periods in history. Yang Wendong stood nearby, listening in. He was already familiar with the material, but the British guests were not. Despite many of them having lived in Hong Kong long enough to understand the local language, Chinese history was another matter entirely.
As the group moved along, they arrived at a side corridor.
"This section here, Governor, Mr. Yang," one of the guides explained, "is dedicated to the history of Hong Kong."
"Let's take a look," Yang Wendong said with a nod.
The group entered, and the corridor walls glowed with jade-green and crimson lights, casting a calm atmosphere over the historical timeline that stretched along both sides of the passage.
Naturally, since this was still the colonial era, certain aspects of Hong Kong's history were omitted or presented in a neutral tone.
In truth, events from over a century ago weren't of much relevance to most visitors. Few people cared about early colonial events. The exhibit instead focused on a more recent and emotionally resonant chapter—1941, the year the Japanese army arrived in Hong Kong.
Although the Japanese and British were both foreign powers, many British officers had died defending the city. Regardless of whether they were fighting for the British Empire or to protect the people, their sacrifice earned them respect. To honor them, the museum had collected the names of over 2,000 fallen soldiers and inscribed them on a memorial wall.
There were also two statues in the exhibit—one of a British officer, and one of a Chinese resistance fighter. Together, they represented the united effort and were commemorated side by side.
Sir Robert Black and the others bowed solemnly in front of the memorial, then proceeded to the next section.
This part covered the post-1945 era and the development of Hong Kong thereafter. The display followed a standard format, listing the names of each Governor and their respective achievements, along with key milestones in the city's social and economic evolution, major policies, and landmark events.
Eventually, they reached the section on the 1960s, with a detailed description of the city's water shortage crisis. This segment emphasized Governor Black's contributions to resolving the problem, highlighting the various policies he had introduced to ensure water access. A portrait of him was also hung on the wall.
"This portrait is well done," commented David Trench, the incoming Governor, clearly a little envious.
Sir Robert Black laughed. "Haha, the museum will continue to record future events. Every future Governor will be remembered here."
That had been his verbal agreement with Yang Wendong—that his policies and contributions would be prominently displayed in the museum. Other Governors might not get the same treatment. One reason his term stood out was the severe drought, which had deeply affected the city. Documenting the crisis, and the lessons learned about water conservation, gave the museum a justifiable angle for placing emphasis on his tenure.
David Trench chuckled and said, "Well then, I hope I can leave my mark here too."
It was common for senior officials and the wealthy—especially those nearing the end of their careers—to crave a place in history. If future generations could speak of them with praise, that sense of accomplishment would be enough to make anyone proud.
Previously, Hong Kong didn't offer such opportunities. Most citizens could barely remember the names of past Governors. Ask someone today who was Governor in the 1930s, and 99.99% wouldn't have a clue.
But now, with the creation of this museum—and the fact that it would eventually draw countless local residents and tourists—this was the one and only chance. The only catch? The museum was privately operated by a Chinese businessman. Even if David Trench became Governor, he couldn't just command what would be written—it would only invite ridicule.
Yang Wendong smiled and said, "Don't worry, Governor. Every Governor will be recorded here. Future citizens of Hong Kong will be able to see them all."
"Excellent," Sir Robert Black replied with a satisfied smile.
He understood that through this venture, Yang Wendong had gained a unique kind of leverage. While it wasn't powerful enough to threaten anyone, it was just influential enough that people would want to stay on his good side.
Leaving the Hong Kong history exhibit, the group moved on to halls dedicated to several iconic Chinese dynasties—Qin, Han, Three Kingdoms, Tang, Song, and Ming.
These dynasties were the most famous among the general public and formed the core of the museum's first-phase exhibition plan. Other dynasties would be added later.
After touring the halls one by one, Sir Robert Black said, "I always knew China had many dynasties, but seeing all this today made me realize how long and rich the history truly is—and how many stories it contains."
"Indeed," Yang Wendong replied with a smile. "And what we have here is just the tip of the iceberg. These relics represent only a tiny fraction of the full history."
Only a small portion of the artifacts on display had actually been purchased by the museum. The majority were leased from mainland China. Most high-grade relics weren't for sale; Chinese law strictly prohibited the sale and export of culturally significant artifacts.
If it weren't for those leasing agreements, the museum wouldn't have been able to assemble such a collection. But there was an upside to leasing—artifacts could be swapped out periodically, which meant fresh content and more return visits.
That was, in fact, a good thing for the museum in the long run.
Unfortunately, the Terracotta Army hadn't been discovered yet in this era. Otherwise, bringing them to Hong Kong would've caused a sensation. It's likely that overseas tourists would've come here just for that exhibit alone.
David Trench laughed and said, "If I get a chance to visit the mainland, I'll be sure to check out their museums as well."
In the 1960s, it wasn't impossible for foreigners to enter the mainland. As long as someone had legitimate reasons and went through formal application channels—such as officials or individuals involved in trade—they could be granted access.
Sir Robert Black nodded. "Yes, it's definitely worth a visit."
Yang Wendong added, "Governor, there's also a section over there showcasing British and other Commonwealth artifacts. Let's have a look."
Although the majority population in Hong Kong was Chinese, there were still a considerable number of British residents, and given the colony's administration by the British, it was only natural for Yang Wendong's museum to include elements of British culture.
The museum's curator had deliberately acquired some ordinary artifacts from the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth regions. They weren't of particularly high value—true treasures couldn't be purchased, and storing them in Hong Kong would have been considered wasteful anyway. So Yang Wendong hadn't gone all out on that section.
"Sounds good," both Governors said with interest.
And so, time passed quickly, and by 10 a.m., Yang Wendong and the two Governors arrived at the museum's main entrance. Outside, there weren't just reporters and media crews, but also a massive crowd of local citizens waiting to visit.
A sea of people. The turnout was even larger than Yang Wendong had anticipated.
The grand opening ceremony began. The museum director, Xu Qiusheng, was the first to speak, followed by an address from Governor Sir Robert Black. Then, along with Yang Wendong and a few other dignitaries, they held the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
As the red ribbon dropped, the Hong Kong Museum officially opened.
However, entry was not immediate. People had to queue up. Fortunately, the museum had prepared for this in advance—rows of zigzagging iron railings had been set up to manage and divide the crowds.
Standing outside, both Sir Robert Black and David Trench were surprised to see how orderly the masses were. "Mr. Yang," Sir Robert Black said, "this is a brilliant solution. You managed to control the crowd with just a few barriers, and it even prevents stampedes."
"Yes," Yang Wendong nodded. "It's simple but effective."
He wasn't sure if this queuing system was already in use overseas, but it definitely didn't exist in Hong Kong. Just look at what had happened during the bank run at Liu Chong Hing Bank—crowds pushing and shoving, dozens of police officers unable to maintain order at a single branch, and a near-stampede situation.
His previous shopping mall openings hadn't drawn such large crowds. There were too many malls in Hong Kong already, so he hadn't needed these kinds of precautions. But the museum's opening was on a whole different level, so he had planned ahead.
David Trench also gave praise: "A very low-cost yet highly effective method. I think I'll start promoting it as well."
"Indeed. Many malls or banks could benefit from installing some of these. They're not expensive," Yang Wendong added with a chuckle.
Just over a year from now, Hang Seng Bank would face a major run on deposits—one that would dwarf the Liu Chong Hing incident. If HSBC hadn't stepped in at the last moment, Hang Seng might have met the same fate, despite the fact that it had no internal problems.
And it wasn't just Hang Seng. Several other Chinese-owned banks also faced runs, which ultimately caused the decline of Chinese banking in Hong Kong—a decline that wouldn't begin to reverse until the 1980s.
"Very impressive," David Trench nodded again.
The two Governors chatted a bit more, then Sir Robert Black said, "Mr. Yang, the museum is now open and running. We have other engagements today, so we'll take our leave here."
"Of course. Allow me to see you both out," Yang Wendong said politely.
Truthfully, he didn't have much else planned for the day. If it weren't for the Governors' presence, he wouldn't have even needed to show up himself.
After escorting the Governors out, Yang Wendong returned to the museum entrance. The front entrance was already packed, so he stood off to the side.
Director Xu Qiusheng hurried over. "Mr. Yang, let's use the staff entrance on the side."
"Alright," Yang Wendong nodded. "Is the inside already full?"
As they made their way toward the side entrance, Xu Qiusheng replied, "Yes. In just a short while, the visitor count has surpassed 2,500, which is the limit of what the museum can handle at once. So we've started restricting entry at the front. Once enough people leave, we'll allow more in."
"Good," Yang Wendong said with a smile. Then he looked at the crowd in front of the main gate and added, "There are too many people. Arrange for vendors to sell water, snacks, maybe even newspapers and books alongside the line. If people get thirsty or bored, tension could rise and cause conflict."
In his past life, people waiting in long queues would just pass the time on their phones. As long as they weren't thirsty, there usually wasn't a problem. But in this era, people just had to stand around like statues. When people got bored, it was easy for tempers to flare. Fortunately, it wasn't too hot today. Otherwise, it would've been much worse.
Xu Qiusheng nodded. "Understood. I'll have nearby vendors come deliver supplies. This might even become a new revenue stream."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Yang Wendong said with a laugh. "This kind of turnout isn't likely to last. Unless Hong Kong's tourism industry really takes off, there won't be crowds like this every day."
Even though the museum would rotate its exhibits, it couldn't do so too frequently. Local residents would likely visit just once or twice. The only way to keep the business strong long-term was to attract overseas tourists and visiting professionals.
Fortunately, by the late 1960s, Hong Kong's tourism industry would enter a period of rapid growth. With hotels, shopping malls, and now a museum under his control, Yang Wendong was well-positioned to take a slice of that lucrative market.
Entering through the staff entrance, Yang Wendong made his way to the second floor of the museum. This area was used for administration and not accessible to the public. From up here, he could look down and see the crowd below.
Many visitors were reading the information panels, admiring artifacts, or taking pictures with their cameras.
Xu Qiusheng explained, "Mr. Yang, since a lot of Hong Kongers don't own cameras, we've launched a photography service. Guests can pay to have their photo taken, and once the photos are developed, we'll mail them to the address they provide.
This way, they'll have a memento of their visit—and especially those with children will appreciate it. Meanwhile, we earn a bit more revenue. It's a win-win."
"Not bad. That's a smart idea," Yang Wendong nodded. "Keep thinking of ways to meet the needs of guests inside the museum—or even create new needs. That's the only way to keep people coming back."
"Yes, Mr. Yang," Xu Qiusheng replied confidently.
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