Bruce Lee Museum In Hong Kong Closed Due To Financial Difficulties

JAKARTA - The Hong Kong museum, dedicated to martial arts legend Bruce Lee and founded by his fans, was forced to close earlier this week due to financial difficulties.

Considered a place that must be visited by Lee's admirers from abroad who visit the region, Bruce Lee Club has showcased a variety of items from his collection of more than 2,000 artifacts, including statues, decades old magazines and valuable film cuts from the beginning of the late star's career.

However, the club previously said on Facebook that cost accumulation had forced them to "re think about the most effective way to take advantage of our resources to maintain Bruce Lee's spirit."

The club's managers have forecast a recovery after revenues were hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, but "the reality is not as expected," the Facebook post said, quoted by Kyodo News July 4.

The museum's final day on Tuesday drew many visitors, including Andy Tong (46) instructor Jeet Kune Do and his son Andre (13) who praised Lee as "god."

"Things related to him or his actions in Hong Kong are increasingly difficult to obtain," said Tong.

It is not yet known whether the museum will reopen in the future.

The fan club was founded by Lee's family to "share closest knowledge and memories" about the late superstar, who died in July 1973 at the age of 32.

The mobile archive first opened at different locations in Hong Kong in 2000, before reopening in 2019 after years of vacuum.

Bruce Lee, an American of Hong Kong descent, is known for bringing Chinese martial arts, or dumpling fu, to Hollywood, and developing a new school known as Jeet Kune Do.

In 2019, pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were seen following the advice of "Be the water, my friend" from the 1971 TV drama series Longstreet featuring Lee as a reminder to remain flexible and continue to change their tactics in the face of the police crackdown.