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be to keep the local people reasonably quiet, whilst money is being made. Mr. Chairman, I call upon the government to make clear its intentions in the matter now, even if such committee as the Town Planning Board has to hold extraordinary meetings. Is the work really going to be held up for another 6 months or a year or indeed forever by a bureaucracy gone mad? I will support this motion but I do not see much use if we are really to be treated in this way.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Museums Select Committee for the 1975-76 fiscal year, may I say that it has been an active, exciting and productive year for the two larger Museums of the Urban Council, that is, the Museum of Art situated in the City Hall Complex and the new Museum of History which is in the Star House Building at Tsim Sha Tsui.
These two Museums originated from the old City Museum and Art Gallery which started in 1962. Its collections had been formed over many years but there had never been room to develop and display them at all adequately. With the additional space now provided in Star House, these two Urban Council museums can now expand and improve even further the services which they render to the public.
Museum of Art
During the year under review, the Museum of Art redesigned the display of one of its major collections, the Chinese Ceramics Collection, and work has started on preparing a catalogue for this collection.
Also, a record number of ten special art exhibitions, three of which were from overseas, were organized and displayed during the year. Outstanding were the Ming Blue and White Porcelain Exhibition presented together with the Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society, and the Chinese Folk Craft Exhibition, which was the Museum of Art's own effort, and probably the first time such a comprehensive exhibition of its kind held in Hong Kong.
Important purchases were made of 18th and 19th century paintings, some of which will be shown at the forthcoming exhibition of the pictures from Tingqua's Studio, during the 1976 Hong Kong Arts Festival. The Museum of Art has built up a unique picture collection which started with the Sir Paul CHATER Collection, and it is hoped that work on a comprehensive illustrated catalogue will soon commence.
Museum of History
Since the opening of the new Museum of History by His Excellency the Governor on 18th July, 1975, more than 300,000 people visited the Museum up to the end of December.
In the Local History and Ethnography Section of this Museum, three major exhibitions marked the opening of the Museum. They were the temporary display of "Hong Kong Currency", and the permanent exhibition of "An Outline of Local History" and "Early Traditional Fisheries".
The Museum of History also commenced its film collection this year through the donation of 10 films on Hong Kong Scenery 1952 by "A Citizen", and another educational film "Excavation of Silla's Twin Tumulus" donated by the Korean Consulate-General in Hong Kong.
The Urban Council looks forward to many more generous donations of this kind, not only on films but on other valuable items suitable for acquisition by both Museums.
In the Archaeology Section, the Museum's collection has increased through support from the Hong Kong Archaeological Society and the efforts of the Museum staff itself. The Museum of History will be taking an active role in discovering and revealing Hong Kong's past to the public as much as possible.
The "50 Years of Hong Kong Archaeology" and the "Maglioni Collection" on South China archaeology were the two important exhibitions of this Section during the year under review.
As far as the Natural History Section is concerned, two displays were staged to coincide with the 1976 Arts Festival, the "Hong Kong Flora" and the "Hong Kong Shell" displays, which were organized with the assistance of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Hong Kong Shell Society respectively.
Lei Cheng Uk (Branch) Museum
In August 1975, the Lei Cheng Uk Branch Museum was re-opened to the public, and attracted an average daily attendance of 109 persons as compared to 42 before it was closed. However, in January 1976 the museum closed for extensive conversion work, which when completed will increase the display area and also provide more facilities to stage feature exhibitions other than on the tomb finds. I am sure that the development in this Branch Museum will be most welcome by the residents in the district.
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be to keep the local people reasonably quiet, whilst money is being made. Mr. Chairman, I call upon the government to make clear its intentions in the matter now, even if such committee as the Town Planning Board has to hold extraordinary meetings. Is the work really going to be held up for another 6 months or a year or indeed forever by a bureaucracy gone mad? I will support this motion but I do not see much use if we are really to be treated in this way.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Chair- man of the Museums Select Committee for the 1975-76 fiscal year, may I say that it has been an active, exciting and productive year for the two larger Museums of the Urban Council, that is, the Museum of Art situated in the City Hall Complex and the new Museum of History which is in the Star House Building at Tsim Sha Tsui.
These two Museums originated from the old City Museum and Art Gallery which started in 1962. Its collections had been formed over many years but there had never been room to develop and display them at all adequately. With the additional space now provided in Star House, these two Urban Council museums can now expand and improve even further the services which they render to the public.
Museum of Art
During the year under review, the Museum of Art redesigned the display of one of its major collections, the Chinese Ceramics Collection, and work has started on preparing a catalogue for this collection.
Also, a record number of ten special art exhibitions, three of which were from overseas, were organized and displayed during the year. Outstanding were the Ming Blue and White Porcelain Exhibition presented together with the Hong Kong Oriental Ceramic Society, and the Chinese Folk Craft Exhibition, which was the Museum of Art's own effort, and probably the first time such a comprehensive exhibition of its kind held in Hong Kong.
Important purchases were made of 18th and 19th century paintings, some of which will be shown at the forthcoming exhibition of the pictures from Tingqua's Studio, during the 1976 Hong Kong Arts Festival. The Museum of Art has built up a unique picture collection which started with the Sir Paul CHATER Collection, and it is hoped that work on a comprehensive illustrated catalogue will soon commence.
Museum of History
Since the opening of the new Museum of History by His Excellency the Governor on 18th July, 1975, more than 300,000 people visited the Museum up to the end of December.
In the Local History and Ethnography Section of this Museum, three major exhibitions marked the opening of the Museum. They were the temporary display of "Hong Kong Currency", and the per- manent exhibition of "An Outline of Local History" and "Early Traditional Fisheries".
The Museum of History also commenced its film collection this year through the donation of 10 films on Hong Kong Scenery 1952 by "A Citizen", and another educational film "Excavation of Silla's Twin Tumulus" donated by the Korean Consulate-General in Hong Kong.
The Urban Council looks forward to many more generous dona- tions of this kind, not only on films but on other valuable items suitable for acquisition by both Museums.
In the Archaeology Section, the Museum's collection has increased through support from the Hong Kong Archaeological Society and the efforts of the Museum staff itself. The Museum of History will be taking an active role in discovering and revealing Hong Kong's past to the public as much as possible.
The "50 Years of Hong Kong Archaeology" and the "Maglioni Collection" on South China archaeology were the two important exhibi- tions of this Section during the year under review.
As far as the Natural History Section is concerned, two displays were staged to coincide with the 1976 Arts Festival, the "Hong Kong Flora" and the "Hong Kong Shell" displays, which were organized with the assistance of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Hong Kong Shell Society respectively.
Lei Cheng Uk (Branch) Museum
In August 1975, the Lei Cheng Uk Branch Museum was re-opened to the public, and attracted an average daily attendance of 109 persons as compared to 42 before it was closed. However, in January 1976 the museum closed for extensive conversion work, which when com- pleted will increase the display area and also provide more facilities to stage feature exhibitions other than on the tomb finds. I am sure that the development in this Branch Museum will be most welcome by the residents in the district.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.