Downtown Chinatown board backs Vietnamese admiral statue for College Walk

The Downtown Chinatown Neighborhood Board voted Thursday to support installing a statue honoring Admiral Hoang Kuming on College Walk, endorsing a fundraising effort led by the Vietnamese Community Organization.

Mai Wilkes, vice president of the Vietnamese Community Organization, told the board the group had commissioned sculptor Phang Thanh Phuc and raised roughly $100,000 toward the sculpture. "We fundraise the money ourselves and the cleanup to beautify the place," Wilkes said during a 10‑minute presentation, adding the material chosen would be easy to clean and weather resistant.

Board member Shulan Shubit Kwok moved the board support resolution after members asked whether the statue and its upkeep would create a city burden. "We already have two statues currently…so we welcome the addition of this," Shubik Kwok said in support. The motion received a second and passed with aye votes recorded by the chair.

Wilkes said the organization expects the city’s arts and culture staff and the mayor’s office to continue required permitting steps, and that the group would organize events and monitoring for maintenance. She also described the statue as an opportunity to broaden cultural programming along College Walk and attract visitors.

The board’s resolution is advisory; final placement and permitting remain subject to city review and any required approvals. Chair Ernest Carvalho said city staff and the mayor’s office would be informed of the board’s vote and asked the organization to continue coordination.

The board will not be allocating city funds to the project, the presenters said, and emphasized private fundraising and volunteer care for long‑term maintenance.