ENG-2003 — Page 486

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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Hong Kong Heritage Museum

'Food Culture' was the theme of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum's programmes in 2003-04. A series of exhibitions and educational activities was organised, including thematic exhibitions entitled More Than Just Food Ceramic Art Exhibition and Hong Kong's Food Culture. In the former exhibition, 12 local artists in ceramics produced appetising menus specially designed for each month of the year as well as some imaginative ware on which to serve the food. The latter exhibition reviewed the history of local food, investigated the changes that had taken place in eating establishments, and examined food packaging in Hong Kong.

Other thematic exhibitions staged during the year included Life in China Around the May Fourth Movement: Sidney D. Gamble's Photographs of China 1908-1932; Huizhou Vernacular Architecture; Alan Chan: The Art of Living; 'Woman' Wanted; Fashion Parade: Women's Wears in Changing Hong Kong; and Mapping Asia - the 18th Asian International Art Exhibition.

A total of 1 138 educational and extension activities were organised for the public such as lectures, field trips, video programmes, demonstrations, art camps for children, workshops, performances, guided tours and an international symposium. A new initiative, the Muse Kids, was introduced in July to provide children from kindergarten level through to Primary 6 with opportunities to explore the history, art and culture of Hong Kong. Specially designed educational programmes would be regularly arranged for them. By year-end, 4 549 children had become members of the scheme.

The museum's exhibition programmes, together with its educational and extension activities, attracted 455 629 visitors and participants.

The Heritage Museum also manages three branch museums - Sam Tung Uk Museum, Hong Kong Railway Museum and Sheung Yiu Folk Museum. The Sam Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan was originally a Hakka walled village built in 1786. It was declared a monument in 1981 and later converted into a museum for public viewing. Located in Tai Po, the Railway Museum consists of the old Tai Po Market Railway Station building, a narrow-gauge steam locomotive and various historical coaches. The station building, in Chinese style, was built in 1913 and declared a monument in 1984. The Sheung Yiu Folk Museum, situated in the Sai Kung Country Park, is housed in a Hakka village built in the late 19th century. It comprises eight domestic units, pig pens, an open courtyard and an entrance gate-tower. The village and a nearby lime kiln were gazetted as monuments in 1981.

In 2003, the Sam Tung Uk Museum, Hong Kong Railway Museum and Sheung Yiu Folk Museum attracted 154 933, 197 415 and 44 434 visitors, respectively.

Hong Kong Science Museum

On loan from a supplier in the United States, Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body was held between November 2002 and March 2003. Animatronics and interactive exhibits were used to engage visitors. A total attendance of 153 797 was registered during the exhibition period.

The exhibition Albert Einstein: Man of the Century was held in the foyer of the Science Museum between February and April. Based on original material housed in the Albert Einstein Archives, the Jewish National and University Library and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the exhibition portrayed Albert Einstein both as