An exhibition entitled "The Road to Modernisation - 70 Years of the People's Republic of China" will open tomorrow (July 3) at the Hong Kong Museum of History. Featuring some 210 invaluable relics, including nine grade-one national treasures, the exhibition will illustrate the modernisation of the People's Republic of China during the 70 years since its founding.
      
     An opening ceremony was held today (July 2). Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, said that Hong Kong has played a unique role in the reform and opening up of China, and the future of Hong Kong will continue to be tied to the development of the country. The connection of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link with the Mainland's network, together with the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, has further fostered Hong Kong's integration into the overall development of China, he said.
      
     Mr Lau added that the exhibition provides a good opportunity for visitors to learn about the achievements of China over the past 70 years. He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for its support, and the National Museum of China (NMC) for providing its precious cultural relics on loan to Hong Kong.
      
     Showcasing some 170 exhibits including pictorials, newspapers, medals, certificates, artworks and models from the NMC, and some 40 exhibits from the Hong Kong Museum of History, along with multimedia programmes and videos, the exhibition focuses on the modernising achievements of China in the areas of the economy, education, technology, culture, sports and people's livelihood.
      
     Highlight exhibits include the first volume of the Citizen Literacy Textbook compiled and printed by the Taiyuan Association for the Elimination of Illiteracy; a uniform worn by members of China's Arctic Scientific Expedition Team during their expedition to the North Pole; the training diary of astronaut Yang Liwei; a share of the Shanghai Feilo Acoustics Company Limited purchased by Meng Jinmei for RMB50; "Dunhuang Paradise", a boxwood carving created by master of Chinese arts Gao Gongbo; grade-one national treasure inscriptions on the Monument to the People's Heroes by Zhou Enlai; and a section of the first China-made seamless steel pipe presented to Mao Zedong by staff of Anshan Iron and Steel Company.
      
     Other officiating guests included the Director of the NMC, Mr Wang Chunfa; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ms Lu Xinning; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Mr Stanley Wong; the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture), Ms Elaine Yeung; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of History, Ms Belinda Wong.
      
     This exhibition is one of the programmes celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. It will run until August 26 and admission is free. It is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the NMC.
      
     The Hong Kong Museum of History is located at 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.history.museum/en_US/web/mh/exhibition/current.html, or call 2724 9042 for enquiries.

Ends/Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:05

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