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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK (in English):-As Chairman of the Museums Select Committee, I would like to say a few words about the Council's museum service. I will try to read very fast because I want to contribute a few minutes of my time to Walter who, I understand, has an extremely long speech, as usual.
Museum of Art
During the year, the Museum of Art at the City Hall has presented twelve large scale exhibitions, of which, three exhibitions were based on collections from local collectors. These were 'Modern Art from the Collection of Mary & George Bloch', 'Chinese Antiquities from the Brian McElney Collection' and 'Chinese Porcelain: The S C Ko Tianminlou Collection'. The success of the exhibitions demonstrates the wide support which the Museum of Art enjoys, not only with collectors, but more importantly with the public which it sets out to serve.
To promote the work of Hong Kong artists overseas, the Museum of Art will stage, as a joint effort with the Painting by Hong Kong Artists at the Barbican Centre in London, in March this year.
Meanwhile, the custom of Chinese tea drinking and the unique accomplishment of Chinese teaware, particularly in the 18th and 19th century, continues to be displayed at the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware.
As regards the permanent Museum of Art at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, piling was completed on schedule, and work on the superstructure is expected to commence in March this year and completion is expected by the end of 1989.
Planning for a centre of Visual Arts at the Cassel Block in Victoria Barracks is now at the final stage and renovation and refurbishment will proceed very soon.
Museum of Science and Technology
Rapid progress has been made on the planning of the Museum of Science and Technology, Phase I. In September last year, the Council approved the layout building plans and the Conceptual Exhibit Master Plan for the Museum. At a cost of $277 million, including estimates for both the exhibits and the building, this world-class Museum is to be built on a 28,000 m2 site in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Details had been released in a press conference last year.
Plans are currently in hand to complete and Exhibit Design and Production Standard Manual, to be followed by detailed design of exhibits, whilst piling for the building will start on site in February this year.
Space Museum
It was a busy year for the Space Museum as well. A total of 2,506 presentations were held in the Space Theatre—attended by 553,623 people; 48 special astronomy films, lectures and classes were held—attended by over 7,406; whilst the exhibits attracted over 1,269,580 visitors.
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To further improve the Space Museum, the Council has recently approved the engagement of a renowned consultant firm for the preparation of an Exhibit Renewal Master Plan.
Museum of History
Turning now to the Museum of History, work on the interior expansion of the Museum building started in September and good progress has been made. When completed in early 1989, 1,000 m2 of additional display area and 200 m2 for supporting services will be provided. During the year, a series of research projects on various aspects of the history of Hong Kong have also been launched, in preparation for the expanded building. These proposals include those on oral history, education, trade and industry and costumes.
The exhibitions of the Museum of History have attracted much attention from the Macau Museum, so much so that the latter borrowed two exhibitions for display. In addition, the Macau Maritime Museum also borrowed two model junks for their inaugural exhibition in November 1987. These loans paved the way for further co-operation between the museums in Hong Kong and Macau.
At the same time, the Museum of History continued to make very good progress in its Education and Extension Services. In addition to its very successful Special Workshop on Hong Kong minerals and regular Weekend Programme of lectures and demonstrations, the Museum introduced classes on traditional crafts such as making dough dolls, Chinese knotting and making lanterns. Most of the events were oversubscribed, reflecting a steadily growing public interest in the Museum's activities.
Conservation
Conservation is the necessary logistics and reinforcement to the Council's museum services. The newly installed Fumigation Chamber is one of the most advanced of its type for killing insects, larvae, insect eggs, mould and fungus from the Museum objects. Since its operation, over 1,500 museum objects had been fumigated.
Conclusion
Necessary and valuable to this Council's museum activities is the service from our many Honorary Advisers. To conclude, I should like, on behalf of the Museums Select Committee, to gratefully thank them all for their continuous and unfailing support.
With these words, I would like to support the motion.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):--Mr. Chairman, I am most grateful to my colleagues for donating some of their time to me. I am certainly going to need it. I had in fact written a very nice speech and then the CNTA dropped that little
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Page 126 of 185
Page 125 of 185
240
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK (in English):-As Chairman of the Museums Select Committee, I would like to say a few words about the Council's museum service. I will try to read very fast because I want to contribute a few minutes of my time to Walter who, I understand, has an extremely long speech, as usual.
Museum of Art
During the year, the Museum of Art at the City Hall has presented twelve large scale exhibitions, of which, three exhibitions were based on collections from local collectors. These were 'Modern Art from the Collection of Mary & George Bloch', 'Chinese Antiquities from the Brian McElney Collection' and 'Chinese Porcelain: The S C Ko Tianminlou Collection'. The success of the exhibitions demonstrates the wide support which the Museum of Art enjoys, not only with collectors, but more importantly with the public which it sets out to serve.
To promote the work of Hong Kong artists overseas, the Museum of Art will stage, as a joint effort with the Painting by Hong Kong Artists at the Barbican Centre in London, in March this year.
Meanwhile, the custom of Chinese tea drinking and the unique accomplish- ment of Chinese teaware, particularly in the 18th and 19th century, continues to be displayed at the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware.
As regards the permanent Museum of Art at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, piling was completed on schedule, and work on the superstructure is expected to commence in March this year and completion is expected by the end of 1989.
Planning for a centre of Visual Arts at the Cassel Block in Victoria Barracks is now at the final stage and renovation and refurbishment will proceed very
soon.
Museum of Science and Technology
Rapid progress has been made on the planning of the Museum of Science and Technology, Phase I. In September last year, the Council approved the layout building plans and the Conceptual Exhibit Master Plan for the Museum. At a cost of $277 million, including estimates for both the exhibits and the building, this world class Museum is to be built on a 28 000 m2 site in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Details had been released in a press conference last year.
Plans are currently in hand to complete and Exhibit Design and Production Standard Manual, to be followed by detailed design of exhibits, whilst piling for the building will start on site in February this year.
Space Museum
It was a busy year for the Space Museum as well. A total of 2 506 presentations were held in the Space Theatre-attended by 553 623 people; 48 special astronomy films, lectures and classes were held-attended by over 7 406; whilst the exhibits attracted over 1 269 580 visitors.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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To further improve the Space Museum, the Council has recently approved the engagement of a renowned consultant firm for the preparation of an Exhibit Renewal Master Plan.
Museum of History
Turning now to the Museum of History, work on the interior expansion of the Museum building started in September and good progress has been made. When completed in early 1989, 1 000 m2 of additional display area and 200 m2 for supporting services will be provided. During the year, a series of research projects on various aspects of the history of Hong Kong have also been launched, in preparation for the expanded building. These proposals include those on oral history, education, trade and industry and costumes.
The exhibitions of the Museum of History have attracted much attention from the Macau Museum, so such so that the latter borrowed two exhibitions for display. In addition, the Macau Maritime Museum also borrowed two model junks for their inaugural exhibition in November 1987. These loans paved the way for further co-operation between the museums in Hong Kong
and Macau.
At the same time, the Museum of History continued to make very good progress in its Education and Extension Services. In addition to its very successful Special Workshop on Hong Kong minerals and regular Weekend Programme of lectures and demonstrations, the Museum introduced classes on traditional crafts such as making dough dolls, Chinese knotting and making lanterns. Most of the events were oversubscribed, reflecting a steadily growing public interest in the Museum's activities.
Conservation
Conservation is the necessary logistics and reinforcement to the Council's museum services. The newly installed Fumigation Chamber is one of the most advanced of its type for killing insects, larvae, insect eggs, mould and fungus from the Museum objects. Since its operation, over 1 500 museum objects had been fumigated.
Conclusion
Necessary and valuable to this Council's museum activities is the services from our many Honorary Advisers. To conclude, I should like, on behalf of the Museums Select Committee, to gratefully thank them all for their continuous and unfailing support.
With these words, I would like to support the motion.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):--Mr. Chairman, I am most grateful to my colleagues for donating some of their time to me. I am certainly going to need it. I had in fact written a very nice speech and then the CNTA dropped that little
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