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

Anyone who has ever been to Egypt would definitely be impressed by the brilliant civilization that it achieved some 5000 years ago. By seeing the stunning pyramids, superbly modelled statuary, finely-crafted jewellery, highly decorated coffins, carefully wrapped mummies and artistic masks, visitors would probably fall under the spell of the Pharaonic empire.

For those who have not been there, then don't miss the chance of discovering the spectacular treasures and mysteries of ancient Egypt at a place that is so close and so easily reachable to local people - the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Between November 3, 1998 and January 17, 1999, an Asian-premiere exhibition on Egyptian culture and antiquities will be staged at the Provisional Urban Council's Museum of Art.

Entitled "Egyptian Treasures from the British Museum", the exhibition was jointly opened today (Monday) by the Council's Chairman, Dr Ronald Leung Ding-bong; the British Consul-General, Sir Andrew Burns and the Director of Urban Services, Miss Elaine Chung Lai-kwok.

Addressing at the opening ceremony, Dr Leung said the Provisional Urban Council presented "National Treasures - Gems of China's Cultural Relics" exhibition last year and won enthusiastic support.

"This year, we present the 'Egyptian Treasures' and I very much hope that our viewers will respond with a similar degree of admiration, since China and Egypt are both great civilizations with thousands of years' history," he said.

Dr Leung said it would be the first major exhibition on Egyptian art and culture presented in Hong Kong.

"I am sure that 'Egyptian Treasures' will enable us to have a glimpse of another ancient and glorious civilization, broaden our vision and stimulate our interests in history and culture," he said.

Featuring 105 items of ancient Egyptian treasures, the exhibition covers the major periods from 3000 BC to 300 BC in a wide range of materials, large and small, from temple and tomb, much of it of outstanding aesthetic quality. They are all specially selected from the finest pieces of the British Museum which houses one of the greatest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Some of which have never been loaned to other museums.

One of the star items of the exhibition is a decorated coffin with its wrapped mummy inside. Stupendous mummy masks are also featured. All these unique antiquities not only can exemplify the Egyptians' desire for an afterlife and their strong emphasis on burial practices, but may also arouse viewers' curiosity in the unique process of making mummies.

The exhibition also epitomizes the splendours and customs of the Pharaohs and their people. Highlights include almost life-sized sculptures, carved relief, miniature funerary figurines and amulets, funeray papyri bearing "Books of Dead" with finely-painted vignettes, luxurious glass perfume vessels and superbly-crafted jewellery of gold, silver and semi-precious stones.

To enhance visitors' delight, part of the Special Exhibition Gallery is dramatically decorated as an ancient Egyptian temple in which the exhibits are displayed under 12 topics namely sculpture, relief and painting; hieroglyphs and the cursive scripts; gods, goddesses and sacred animals; funerary papyri and funerary amulets; funerary practices; the Egyptian afterlife; houses and their contents; toilet objects and the use of glass; jewellery and jewellery-making; non-funerary scarabs and the forms of the finger-ring; non-sacred animals in Egyptian art; and jewels of the Pharaohs.

Part of the Gallery is also reserved for the "Comparison Corner of Chinese and Egyptian Cultures" which is specially designed for teenagers to gain insight into the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China by comparing the two different cultures.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum also provides a variety of educational and extension activities for school teachers and students including pre-visit kit, free guided tour, free coach, free use of audio guide service, educational video programme and educational pamphlet. A lecture on "3000 Years' Journey : An Introduction to Ancient Egypt" by the Assistant Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities of the British Museum will also be held on November 4.

To tie in with this major exhibition, an Omnimax Show "Mysteries of Egypt" will be shown at the Hong Kong Space Museum starting from November 4, 1998. Viewers will be taken through a historical journey along the Nile, the Valley of the Kings and into the pyramids. Legendary actor and native Egyptian Omar Sharif will be their expert guide on this exciting journey.

Viewers of the film can enjoy a 50% discount for admission to the "Egyptian Treasures" exhibition by producing their film ticket stubs.

A fully illustrated catalogue which provides detailed information on the exhibition has been produced and will be on sale at the gift shop of the museum. Members of the public are welcome to visit the museum's website at http://www.usd.gov.hk/hkma/ to browse the gems of ancient Egypt.

The exhibition is presented by the Provisional Urban Council and sponsored by the Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art. It is also identified as a "Spotlight Hong Kong Event" by the Hong Kong Tourist Association for international promotion.

The Special Exhibition Gallery of the museum opens from 10 am to 8 pm daily and from 1 pm to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays. It closes on every Thursday.

Admission fee for the exhibition is $20, with half-price concessions for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. There is no Wednesday free admission for this exhibition. For enquiries, please call 2734 2167.

END/Monday, November 2, 1998

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