RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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During the year, the Urban Council continued to acquire important works of art to strengthen the museum collection and received significant donations from generous donors. Donations included a collection of 30 Chinese paintings by Chao Shao-an, eight items of Qing porcelain from Kalam Cheung and his wife, a 17th century huanghuali horseshoe armchair from the Min Chiu Society, an oil painting The British Naval Detachment Camped at Kowloon from Gerald Godfrey and a white-glazed 'monk's cap' ewer engraved with Tibetan inscription from Dr K.S. Lo.
To develop the role of the museum as a visual arts education centre, various educational activities were organised. These included art lectures, demonstrations, workshops, guided tours, gallery talks, art video shows and small-scale travelling exhibitions. They attracted a total attendance of 21 430 participants.
Hong Kong Space Museum
Hong Kong Space Museum's Hall of Astronomy and Hall of Space Science displayed over 50 new exhibits, most of which were visitor-participatory, audio-visual or computer- interactive. Around 257 733 people visited the exhibition halls during the year. In addition to permanent exhibitions in the museum's two exhibition halls, a temporary exhibition Antarctica – The Final Frontier was also held.
In 1992, major attractions offered by the museum's space theatre included three Omni- max film shows The Deepest Garden, Ring of Fire and Antarctica; three sky shows The Enigma of Time, Questions and From Fiction to Science; and two educational programmes for students, – The New Solar System and The Friendly Sky. The shows attracted a total audience of 0.5 million people.
The museum published a 1993 astro-calendar. Other activities included nine lectures, 10 courses and 24 film shows on astronomy, space science and related topics.
Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong Science Museum was one of the most popular venues in the territory for visitors to explore the world of science and technology. During 1992, a total of 480 000 visitors from all walks of life visited the museum.
The exhibits covered basic scientific principles, mathematics, earth science, life science, the daily application of technology, home technology, energy, communication, transporta- tion, and high-tech exhibits such as computers and robotics. The most prominent exhibit was a 20-metre high energy machine and many were hands-on exhibits which were not only entertaining but also educational.
To supplement the exhibition programmes, the museum also organised special thematic exhibitions. Two special exhibitions were organised in 1992. The Mount Everest Exhibition was jointly organised with the Boston Museum of Science and Hong Kong Moun- taineering Union, while the Michael Faraday and the Modern World exhibition was jointly organised with the Science Museum of London.
In addition to exhibition programmes to arouse public interest in science, the museum also organised a wide range of activities including popular science lectures, workshops, science competitions, fun science experiments for children, and science films shows. The museum also sponsored science and technology activities organised at the museum by other organisations, such as the 25th Joint Schools Science Exhibition.