RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
During the year, major attractions in the museum's Space Theatre included three Omnimax film shows, Beavers, The Great Barrier Reef and To The Limit; two sky shows, The Cosmic Perils and Passport to Mars, and an educational programme for students, The Magic Sky. In addition to permanent exhibitions in the museum's two exhibition halls, temporary exhibitions on themes of the shows were also held. These attracted around 1.25 million people.
An astrophotographic competition was organised during the year to promote public interest in astrophotography and to celebrate the museum's 10th anniversary.
The museum also published the 1991 Astro-Calendar. Other activities included 27 lectures, 10 courses and 24 film shows on astronomy, space science and related topics.
Hong Kong Science Museum
Following ground-breaking in March 1988 and topping-out in July 1989, the four-storey Hong Kong Science Museum was completed in August 1990. Assembly and installation of exhibits started a month earlier and the museum was dedicated in November 1990.
The museum has about 500 exhibits including a 20-metre-high energy machine, the largest of its kind in the world. Nearly half the exhibits are original designs created jointly by overseas design teams and museum staff. Visitors are allowed to touch and operate most exhibits to learn science and technology in an entertaining and dynamic way.
The exhibits cover basic science, applied and life science, computers and robotics, communications technology, air, land and water transportation, technology for home appliances, information on food, mathematical principles, geographical features of Hong Kong, basic principles of meteorology, engineering and construction technology, and a children's corner where they can play and learn at the same time.
The museum building has 13 500 square metres of exhibition space. The rest comprises public facilities including a 300-seat lecture hall, a computer room, a laboratory, a class- room, a society room, a gift shop and a snack bar, and a landscaped piazza.
Various activities, including film shows and lectures organised by the museum through- out the year, were well received, drawing some 2 600 participants.
Conservation Service
Preservation and conservation of cultural material is a vital and indispensable function of museum work. During the year, specialist conservators worked closely with museum curators - historians and art specialists - as well as engineers, craftsman, research scien- tists, pest control experts and others to help maintain the works of art and historical collections in good condition.
In 1990, more than 480 museum objects were treated. Other services included analysis, technical examination, condition inspections, environmental monitoring, display and storage assessment, collection surveying as well as packing delicate objects for travel to loan exhibitions.
Public Libraries
Hong Kong's public libraries are operated by the Urban and Regional Councils.
The Urban Council's public library services expanded with the opening of a specialised Arts Library in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in January. The Urban Council now operates 30 libraries.
331