ENG-2004 — Page 509

Recreation, Sport and the Arts 439

event, over a hundred delegates from more than 20 countries and economic regions participated in various conference sessions and visits. The conference helped establish and strengthen collaborations between science centres in the Asia Pacific region.

Over the year, the museum continuously worked with academic institutions and professional bodies on a number of special projects to promote science. In 2004, the museum's exhibitions and extension activities attracted more than 853 000 visitors and participants.

Hong Kong Space Museum

The Hong Kong Space Museum is dedicated to promoting astronomy and space science to the public. During the year, the museum strengthened its astronomical observation activities. It was opened to the public on June 8 to allow about 3 000 people to observe the planet Venus passing the Sun's disc through the Solar Telescope and other equipment. The Space Museum broadcast this rare astronomical event with the Hong Kong Observatory through the Internet.

A Sidewalk Astronomy was held with astronomical societies in May at the podium of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Some 40 telescopes were set up for viewing the comet (C/2001Q4) by over 350 passers-by.

In August, Dr Stanley Ho donated $20 million to the Government under the Facility and Programme Donations Scheme of HAB for sponsoring the promotion of arts and culture, recreation and sports and community building in Hong Kong. The Space Theatre of the Hong Kong Space Museum has been officially named the Stanley Ho Space Theatre for a period of 15 years as an appreciation. On December 28, the Stanley Ho Space Theatre Naming Ceremony was held in the Space Museum and officiated by Dr Stanley Ho and Dr Patrick Ho, the Secretary for Home Affairs.

During the year, the museum published the Astrocalendar 2005 and launched two sky shows, four Omnimax films and five school shows, attracting some 380 000 viewers. The museum also organised 190 extension activities that had over 27 000 participants. Eight temporary special exhibitions together with the permanent exhibits in the Hall of Astronomy and Hall of Space Science attracted more than 380 000 visitors.

Hong Kong Film Archive

The Hong Kong Film Archive's key functions are to acquire, preserve, catalogue and document Hong Kong films and related materials. With a gross floor area of 7 200 square metres, its major facilities include a cinema, an exhibition hall, a resource centre and a number of temperature-controlled collection stores. It has already catalogued around 630 000 items of films and film-related materials, mainly through donations and deposits. Major acquisitions include donations of around 200 films from Cathay Organisations from Singapore and around 600 Shaw Bros films from Celestial Pictures Ltd.

During the year, nine thematic exhibitions were organised and more than 430 screenings were held at the Hong Kong Film Archive. To complement the exhibitions and screening activities, the Film Archive also held a number of joint projects with