HK$20 million spent on salaries of M+, Palace Museum executives last year despite West Kowloon art hub’s deficit, figures show

Seven executives at Hong Kong's M+ Museum and Palace Museum collectively earned over HK$20 million in salaries last year, even as the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) hub continues to face a significant deficit. Rosanna Law, the culture, sports, and tourism minister, informed lawmakers on Wednesday that these seven executives received a total of HK$20.9 million during the 2025-26 financial year.

Expenditure on remuneration has seen a year-on-year increase since the 2021-22 financial year, with increases ranging from 0.8 percent to 8.5 percent, except for one year with a temporary vacancy. Both the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum are managed by the cash-strapped West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA).

Figures provided by Law revealed that three executives at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, including its director, deputy director, and deputy director and chief curator, were paid a total of HK$9.4 million in the 2025-26 financial year. This averages to more than HK$260,000 per month for each executive. Meanwhile, four executives at the M+ Museum, comprising a director, an artistic director and chief curator, another director, and a deputy director, earned a combined HK$11.4 million in the same period. This figure represents a 3.6 percent increase from the previous financial year.

Law explained that the WKCDA considers multiple factors when determining pay adjustments, including Hong Kong's market pay rates, economic conditions, staff turnover, the Authority's financial position, and the executives' work performance and existing pay. According to the WKCDA's annual report, senior executives, including the CEO, deputy CEO, and CFO, received a total remuneration of nearly HK$40 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with CEO Betty Fung earning an annual salary of HK$6.59 million.

The WKCDA has recorded a deficit since the 2019-20 financial year. In the 2025-26 financial year, the art hub reported a deficit of HK$466.2 million, a 6 percent reduction from the previous year's loss. Henry Tang, chairperson of the authority, attributed the deficit partly to high operating costs associated with displaying exhibits from mainland China and overseas, which incur substantial insurance and logistics fees, noting Hong Kong's lack of sufficient homegrown arts and cultural exhibits. Last year, the government suggested the WKCDA explore fundraising through residential development once the property market recovers. In February, the art hub secured a HK$3 billion loan from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) to bolster its finances.

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When determining the pay adjustment, the WKCDA takes into account multiple factors, including Hong Kong’s market pay and economic conditions, the staff turnover rate and financial position of the Authority, and the work performances and existing pay positions of the executives.