A HK$500,000 government-funded white rose installation has been updated to include multi-coloured LED flowers following criticism that they resembled funeral flowers.

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Last week, Jack Cheung, a Kwun Tong district councillor, said on Commercial Radio that he knew the Home Affairs Department and the installation’s contractors were in discussion about refreshing the installation outside East Kowloon Cultural Centre in Ngau Tau Kok.

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Photos circulated of the installation last Wednesday, showing rows of LED roses that were white in the day, when they were not switched on. At night, the flowers were lit up in blue.

white flowers east kowloon cultural centre
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 20, 2024, before they were covered up. Photo: Internet.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Online commenters suggested that the daytime display was haunting, resembling flowers in memorial halls or placed by tombstones.

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Some joked that the flowers were a reminder that Ching Ming Festival, a public holiday for honouring the dead, was approaching.

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The flower installation is part of the government’s effort to set up photo spots around the city.

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Chief Executive John Lee said in his Policy Address last year that each of Hong Kong’s 18 districts would be given funding to propose a “distinctive photo-taking landmark.”

LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024.
LED flowers outside the East Kowloon Cultural Centre on March 25, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The project is overseen by the Home Affairs Department’s District Youth Community Building Committees and was unveiled ahead of this week’s Art Week.

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Tom founded Hong Kong Free Press in 2015 and is the editor-in-chief. In addition to editing, he is responsible for managing the newsroom and company - including fundraising, recruitment and overseeing HKFP's web presence and ethical guidelines.

He has a BA in Communications and New Media from Leeds University and an MA in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. He previously led an NGO advocating for domestic worker rights, and has contributed to the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Al-Jazeera and others.