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"International Museum Day 2008, Hong Kong", which comprises a two-day carnival ¡ª"Museum Panorama" and a variety of activities - was opened today (May 17).
The opening ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Officiating guests included the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau, the Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Long Jiayou, the Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Culture Heritage, Ms Yu Ping, the Chief of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Mr Tao Cheng, and the representative of the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Chan Ieng-hin, who is also the Director of the Macao Museum.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Yau said the theme of International Museum Day for this year was "Museums as Agents of Social Change and Development". She said that as the world was ever-changing, people had to learn more about their living environment, such as the customs, culture and history of a place, as well as new developments in technology, so as to keep up with the pace of change and enjoy their lives.
"Museums should enhance their services and bring the educational function into full play to satisfy the needs of society," Mrs Yau said.
The Museum Panorama, a highlight of "International Museum Day 2008, Hong Kong", will open from 10am to 6pm today and tomorrow (May 17 and 18) at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to provide visitors with entertaining booth games and educational activities. At the panorama, more than 80 illustrated catalogues and books published by Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) museums, along with more than 40 souvenir items, will be on sale at up to 30% discount. The selected publications cover diverse topics in art, history, heritage, film, science and technology, and astronomy.
To encourage people to visit LCSD museums more frequently, a souvenir will be given to those who purchase an LCSD museum yearly pass for individual, family or concessionary in May. Pass holders are entitled to unlimited admission to the Hong Kong Science Museum (excluding some special exhibitions), the Hong Kong Space Museum (excluding the Stanley Ho Space Theatre's programmes), the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum during the validity period. They can also enjoy a 10% discount when participating in extension activities organised by LCSD museums.
To coincide with International Museum Day, educational and entertaining programmes including lectures on the work and functions of museums, workshops, guided tours, demonstrations, children's programmes, video programmes and behind-the-scenes tours will be organised at different museums in May.
"International Museum Day 2008, Hong Kong" is organised in support of the designation of May 18 as International Museum Day by the International Council of Museums in 1978 to stimulate public awareness of the role that museums play in society. Participating institutions this year include: the Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Central Conservation Section under the LCSD, the Antiquities and Monuments Office and its Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre and the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, the Art Promotion Office, the Museum of Ethnology, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, the Tung Wah Museum, the Po Leung Kuk Museum, The Hong Kong Racing Museum, the University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, the Art Gallery of the Institute of Chinese Studies of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr. & Mrs. Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery, the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, the Police Museum, the Lions Nature Education Centre, Hong Kong Wetland Park, Museums in Macao, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, and the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage.
Programme details of "International Museum Day 2008, Hong Kong" are now available on LCSD's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/. For enquiries, please call 2724 9042.
Ends/Saturday, May 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:00
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