Hong Kong Chief Executive Threatens Censorship of M+ Museum Exhibitions

Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, has issued a caution that officials are on 'full alert' regarding museum displays that could potentially 'undermine national security', specifically targeting the M+ Museum located in the West Kowloon Cultural District. This statement was made during a Legislative Council session in response to New People's Party lawmaker Eunice Yung, who claimed that upcoming M+ exhibitions could breach the National Security Law and incite 'hatred' towards China. Yung inquired about the possibility of establishing a vetting department at M+ to ensure adherence. This follows comments from M+ Museum director Suhanya Raffel, who recently indicated that featuring works by Ai Weiwei or pieces related to the Tiananmen Square incident would pose 'no problem'. The museum houses 1,450 artworks, including 26 by Ai Weiwei, displayed across 12 galleries. Raffel had previously committed to resisting political interference upon her appointment in 2017. A spokesperson for the museum affirmed their intention to 'adhere to Hong Kong's laws while upholding the highest standards of professional integrity'. This warning follows the cancellation of the World Press Photo exhibition by Hong Kong Baptist University due to 'safety and security' concerns, as well as the withdrawal of the commercial screening of 'Inside the Red Brick Wall' after backlash from the pro-Beijing publication Wen Wei Po.