The "Together · Progress · Opportunity - Exhibition in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to the Motherland" organised by the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) Government at the National Museum of China in Beijing was successfully concluded today (July 16). Since its launch on June 27, the exhibition received overwhelming response, attracting some 120 000 visitors. 
      
     The three-week exhibition drew wide attention from people from all walks of life. Visitors from different age groups and different sectors had shown immense interest in the exhibition. Many organisations even organised group visits to the exhibition, listening to the briefings by working staff and offering their best wishes for Hong Kong.
      
     The "heart-beat" interactive installation at the entrance of the exhibition gallery which resonated with the main theme of "togetherness" of the exhibition was particularly popular among visitors.  Visitors who touched the installation felt that they were contributing jointly to the prosperity of Hong Kong and the development of the motherland through the symbolic act of contributing their "heart beat". During the exhibition, a total of 900 998 "heart beats" were collected, far exceeding expectation. The heart beats represent not only the warm wishes of the Mainland and Hong Kong visitors but also those of foreign visitors from afar. 
      
     The Director of the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing (Beijing Office), Ms Gracie Foo, said that the exhibition had served as a very good platform for Mainland visitors to look at close range the major progress of Hong Kong over the past 20 years, and especially the achievements in the recent five years. 
      
     "The positive response of the mainland community towards the exhibition is indeed very encouraging.  By enhancing understanding and engagement through the exhibition, I hope that the Mainland and Hong Kong would foster even closer cooperation and exchange with each other to build a better future together," she said.
      
     Ms Foo said that the successful organisation of the exhibition was made possible by the staunch support rendered by the relevant Central authorities in areas such as venue coordination, traffic arrangement and publicity, which was instrumental to the smooth implementation of the exhibition. On behalf of the HKSAR Government, she expressed her sincere gratitude to all those organisations and individuals who had supported the exhibition.
      
     To allow those who have yet to view the exhibition to do so, the Beijing Office today launched an online version of the exhibition.  Using virtual reality (VR) technology, the online exhibition has recreated the real exhibition. Visitors are welcome to tour the online exhibition at Beijing Office's website at www.bjo.gov.hk/online_exhibition/index.html (for better user experience, please browse using Google Chrome), the curtain for which never falls.

Ends/Sunday, July 16, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:20

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