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International Museum Day celebrations open today

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From today until May 18, Museum Panorama, a carnival of games, educational activities and exhibits, takes over the piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The event is part of celebrations marking International Museum Day 2003, Hong Kong.

It marks the third year that Hong Kong has observed the celebration, which was inaugurated on May 18, 1978 by the International Council of Museums.

To promote public understanding of their significant role, 26 museums and cultural organisations from Hong Kong and Macau are taking part in the celebrations.

Speaking at today's opening ceremony, the Deputy Director (Culture) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Miss Choi Suk-kuen, said: "This year's theme is 'Discovering Museums'. This is created in response to all dedicated museum staff, who are very much devoted to the discovery of new perspectives of museum development. And this is also a token of appreciation for the genuine support of museumgoers, who contribute to the success of the museum business nowadays."

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Museum Panorama includes Chinese tea-drinking demonstrations, science shows, mime performances, a concert for eight voices, an origami workshop, astronomy kit making and solar observation, Cantonese opera costumes, and tank model making.

A highlight is Blazing Science, in which Mik Jacobs, a famous museum educator from the United States, pierces the veil of mystery surrounding pyrotechnics -- from the florid flashes of fireworks to the closely guarded secrets of motion-picture fire stunts.

During the International Museum Day celebrations, the public will have free admission to more than 80 exhibitions organised by the 26 participating museums and organisations. There will also be free guided-tours, lectures on museum work and exhibitions, demonstrations of art and traditional handicrafts, dim-sum making, model making and children's programmes.

And everyone who visits a museum before August 31 will receive a souvenir card showing representative museum collections. Those who visit five or more museums before August 31 will receive a set of Discovering Museums VCDs while stocks last.

Participating organisations of the International Museum Day 2003, Hong Kong include: Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches, Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive, Antiquities and Monuments Office, Central Conservation Section under LCSD, Art Promotion Office, Museum of Ethnology, Police Museum, Tung Wah Museum, The Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Po Leung Kuk Museum, University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lions Nature Education Centre, and The Museum of Macao.

Programme booklets are available from the participating organisations. Information is also available on the LCSD website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk. For enquiries, please call 2732 3223.

End/Friday, May 16, 2003

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