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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) How are the collection items of the Council categorised? What is the total amount and value of collection items in each category?
(b) It is learnt that a portion of the Council's collections is seldom displayed in the Museum of Art and Museum of History for appreciation by the public. Some items even have never been openly exhibited years after they were purchased. What are the reasons?
(c) Do the Council have a plan to review the policy with a view to displaying the Council's collections, not only in the Museum of Art and Museum of History for public appreciation, but also systematically in appropriate venues for exhibition on a rotation basis under strict security and comprehensive planning, so as to "fully utilise" the value of the collections for public appreciation and to enhance their knowledge in this respect?
THE HON. MOK Ying-fan, CHAIRMAN OF THE Museums Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the use of the collections of Museum of Art and Museum of History. I would try to answer it as follows:
(a) The Museum of Art's collection can be broken down into four main categories:
Chinese Antiquities 4 012 items Chinese Fine Art 3 637 items Hong Kong Modern Art 2 625 items Historical Pictures 1 178 items The total number is 11 452 items.They are currently valued at roughly $1 billion.
The Museum of History's collection is also made up of four main categories:
Archaeology 6 574 items Ethnology 12 676 items Local History 33 014 items Natural History 4 348 items The total number is 56 612 items.The Museum also looks after the Central Archaeological Repository of the Antiquities and Monuments Office, which comprises 700 000 items. As most items in the Museum of History's collection have no market price, it is difficult to assess the total value of the collection.
(b) The two museums acquire works of art and objects of historical significance for the following primary purposes:
(i) preservation,
(ii) exhibition,
(iii) research, and (iv) publication.
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