The Government today announced that Haw Par Music will cease operation from December 1 and the historic building of Haw Par Mansion, which is its base of operation, will be returned to the Government on the same day.

As the Haw Par Music Foundation will continue to manage Haw Par Mansion before December 1, the building will remain open for public visits and activities already planned will still be held.

A project under Batch III of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, Haw Par Music was restored and revitalised from Haw Par Mansion by the non-profit-making Haw Par Music Foundation. Having begun operation in April 2019, it has been offering Chinese and Western music training as well as regular free guided tours, while the mansion's garden and interpretation area is open to the public.

The foundation informed the Government that Haw Par Music has been facing multiple challenges which affected its income and business operation. Despite efforts to improve the financial situation, the operator considered running the project no longer sustainable and proposed to discontinue the tenancy agreement originally due to expire on March 31, 2025. Subsequent to detailed discussions between the Government and the foundation, the historic building will be returned to the former.

The Development Bureau said it respects the operator’s decision and will take over Haw Par Mansion on December 1 in accordance with the tenancy agreement.

“Though the operator will leave the site, Haw Par Mansion has already been successfully restored and properly preserved through this revitalisation project. We will formulate plans for its future use in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation, including the consideration of incorporating this Grade 1 historic building into the next batch of the revitalisation scheme for application by eligible organisations.”

During the transitional period, activities such as guided tours will be arranged for the public, with details to be announced later, the bureau added.