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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Regional Council:

The official gifts from the Mainland, currently on display at the Provisional Regional Council (Pro RC)'s Sha Tin Town Hall (STTH) to commemorate the first anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, have so far grasped the interest of over 10,000 visitors.

The daily average of 2,300 visitors has so far outnumbered the Council's most popular exhibitions at STTH --- "History through Chinese Stamps" in mid-1997 and "Empress Dowager Cixi - Her Art of Living" in late 1996 by some 800 a day.

Commenting on the public response, a Council spokesman said, "The enthusiastic response was attributed to the public anxiety to view these precious items and to feel the passion and blessing from the Mainland through the 'More than Gifts' Exhibition".

"As the exhibition of the 16 gift items still has a few days to go, more people are expected during the weekend," the spokesman added.

These gifts are gems of contemporary Chinese art. Sixteen pieces are selected for display from the full collection presented by the Central People's Government, 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last year (1997).

Presented by the Pro RC, the exhibition entitled "More than Gifts - Gifts from the Mainland to Commemorate Hong Kong's Return to China" is being held at the Exhibition Gallery and the Foyer of STTH at 1 Yuen Wo Road near the KCR Sha Tin Station until June 21. The display at the Foyer will last until July 15. The exhibition will be open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm daily and admission is free.

Since the gifts in the full collection are monumental, with some of them weighing over 2,000 kilograms, the town hall can only accommodate 16 items in conformity with the height and load restrictions of the venue. The rest will be presented through photographs.

The gifts convey blessings and wishes from the Mainland. They are cloisonne vases from Beijing, vase with striped and peacock design from Yunnan Province, porcelain vases with Jun-style glaze from Henan Province, Tao River ink-slab with nine-dragon design from Gansu Province, ink-slab carved from Songhua rock from Jilin Province, tapestry from Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, inside-painted rock crystal sphere embraced by filigree dragons from Hebei Province.

There are also different kinds of carvings, such as gilt bronze cranes from Hubei Province, rock carving from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, sculpture of three waist-drum dancers from Shaanxi Province, shell carving from Hainan Province, redwood circular screen with brass panel from Sichuan Province, rock crystal carving from Shanghai and sculpture of galloping horse from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The design of the pair of cloisonne vases from Beijing reflects the long-cherished hope of the people of Beijing and Hong Kong for the reunion. Bands of interlocking cloud-heads symbolise the intimate relationship between these two cities. Across the neck are eleven bold characters in bright red denoting "In congratulation of the Establishment of the HKSAR" against a background of densely packed chrysanthemum, China rose and bauhinia, respectively the floral emblems of Beijing and Hong Kong.

End/Thursday, June 18, 1998

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