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IIC 2014 Hong Kong Congress concludes (with photos)
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     The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) 2014 Hong Kong Congress concluded successfully today (September 26).

     The Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture), Ms Cynthia Liu, remarked at the closing ceremony that Hong Kong has been honoured to have the opportunity to host the Congress this year. She said Hong Kong is fortunate to have the support of the IIC Council, particularly from its President, Ms Sarah Staniforth, its President Emeritus, Mr Jerry Podany, and its Secretary-General, Ms Jo Kirby Atkinson.

     Ms Liu also thanked the Congress' guest panellists who have given efficient guidance on the review and discussion on varied subjects of interest. Without their efforts, the IIC and the International Council on Museums - Conservation Committee Joint Declaration on Museum Environmental Guidelines could not have been promulgated today.

     In the Congress, the conservation profession agreed on a position on environmental standards for the safekeeping of cultural heritage objects. A group of eight scholars from different countries and regions led by Ms Staniforth presented their thoughts on environmental conditions in preserving collections.

     After the panel discussion, a joint declaration by the IIC with the International Council on Museums - Conservation Committee was promulgated. The declaration is expected to serve as a guideline for museum institutions on the provision of environmental conditions to preserve heritage objects in a sustainable way.

     Noting that most museums in the world do not have climate control systems in their exhibition and storage spaces, the scholars acknowledged in the Congress the need for a document on the environmental conditions relating to the permanent display and storage of collections in all museums.

     To mitigate climate change, they also found it necessary for museums and collecting institutions to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact by reducing their energy use and examining alternative renewable energy sources.

     The five-day congress opened on September 22 at the Hong Kong City Hall. It has been presented by the IIC and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

     It is the first time for the IIC to hold its Congress in a sub-tropical region, and specialists and scholars have discussed East Asia's unique and particular problems of preventive conservation. With the theme "An Unbroken History: Conserving East Asian Works of Art and Heritage", some 400 specialists and scholars from 30 countries and regions gathered in Hong Kong to exchange their professional knowledge and share the latest research findings in the field of cultural heritage conservation.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:00

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