Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee, chief executive officer of the authority, said on Wednesday that the museum building has been finished, and its system and facilities are being tested. Interior fit-out of the galleries and production of exhibitions are also being carried out in full swing.

Fit-out works have been slightly delayed and some works materials were not delivered to Hong Kong on time due to the severe pandemic development.

Fung reassured that the museum has adjusted the project plan and will strive to complete the work of all galleries in mid-April in order to facilitate inspections by government departments for the issuance of public entertainment licenses.

“Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the authority is making its best efforts to get the Hong Kong Palace Museum open to the public in July,” it said in a statement.

“In response to the Chief Executive’s announcement on March 21 on the government’s plan to
relax most of the social distancing measures in three phases, the authority will be gearing up
for the reopening of M+ and its performing arts venues,” it continued.

More details will be announced in due course.

All performing programs and activities scheduled for January 7 to April 20 in the district’s performing arts venues this year have been rescheduled, canceled or transformed to online programs.

Fung also said M+ received a significant donation of works by Chinese-French master Zao Wou-Ki generously donated by Zao's daughter Sin-May Roy Zao.

The donation comprises 12 works, including nine prints, two oil paintings, and one watercolour painting ranging in dates from 1945 to 2005, spanning almost his entire professional career.

This is M+’s first acquisition of Zao’s work and the biggest donation of his work ever to an Asian museum. M+ now holds one of the largest collections of his work in a public institution outside of Europe.