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To celebrate the grand opening of the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has organized an exhibition on "Special Collections of Documents of Modern China", at the Exhibition Gallery, G/F, HKCL.

This exhibition, a concerted effort of the Hong Kong Public Libraries and the Shanghai Library, aims to promote the excellent Chinese culture by featuring the trail of historical and cultural developments in modern China. It also serves to promote cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Among the over three hundred documents chosen for this exhibition, the Shanghai Library provides a large number of precious exhibits including folk prints, rare books, autograph books of famous Chinese scholars, correspondence handwritten by famous Chinese, and genealogy manuscripts. Also on display are historic documents selected from the donations collected through the Documents Collection Campaign launched in January 2001. Besides, members of the public have an opportunity to see demonstrations on conservation and rubbing of documents during the exhibition.

The exhibits covers four categories: (1)Image Documents - Folk Prints, Maps and Historical Photos, which include a folk print of "Mu Lan Cong Jun", an antique map of Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping and Enping of Guangdong Province, a group picture of wedding couples in the 30s, etc; (2) on the category of Folk Etiquette and Agreement Documents, items display include the conveyance on sale of a paddy field, the Clan Tree of Cha's from Haining, etc; (3)Manuscripts of Modern Chinese Scholars, feature items including Late Qing scholar Zhu Ru-zhen Tai Shi's calligraphy, Bing Xin's handwritten poem, etc; and(4)Books and Publications, which show "The Eastern Miscellany", "The China Star", "Chuang Zao Wen Yi Ji Kan", etc.

The exhibition, which opens from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., will end on 14 July 2001. Admission is free.

In addition, "Exhibition on Contemporary Chinese Sculptures and Ceramics" is also open to members of the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the ground floor of Exhibition Gallery in the HKCL. The exhibition displays 81 exhibits by 45 notable sculptures and ceramists from the Mainland. Those exhibits reflect not only far-ranging subjects but also an expression of different artistic style between realism and post-modernism. The visitors will have a more concrete concept of Contemporary Chinese Sculptures and Ceramics. The exhibition will end on 10 July 2001.

Furthermore, library visitors will have the opportunity to see another interesting exhibition at the HKCL. It is the "International Ex-Libris Exhibition", staged on the 7th floor, Exhibition Area, during the opening hours of the HKCL. About 200 pieces of attractively designed ex-libris were created by famous world-renowned ex-libris designers to mark the opening of the HKCL. This exhibition will end on 31 July 2001.

To generate the public's interest on library development and arts appreciation, the HKCL has organized other admission free programmes, namely the Seminar on Library Development in the Millennium, Play Programmes Series, Creative Workshops on Arts, Art & Culture Dialogue, Reading Talks and other subject talks aimed at a wide section of the community.

Programme leaflets are now available at all Hong Kong Public Libraries. Interested parties can also visit library homepage at http://www.hkpl.gov.hk for details.

Details of the opening hours of the HKCL are as follows:

Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays and Fridays      10 am to 9 pm
Wednesday                                    1 pm to 9 pm
Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays       10 am to 6 pm

For enquiries, please call 2921 0284/2921 2648.

End/Wednesday, May 30, 2001

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