A major exhibition of the Hong Kong Science Museum entitled "Eternal Life - Exploring Ancient Egypt" will be open to the public from tomorrow (June 2). The exhibition will not only showcase a number of mummies and objects from the collection of the British Museum, but also use the latest computerised technology to explore the mysteries of ancient Egypt.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony today (June 1), the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "The exhibition crosses the boundaries between art, history, culture and science. Visitors will not only appreciate the rich culture of the Egyptian civilisation, but also recognise the pivotal role played by science and technology in the journey of discovery and innovation." He said he hoped that the exhibition and its fun-filled activities and programmes would encourage youngsters to be inquisitive and inspire their interest in the learning of science, technology and history.

     Mr Cheung also extended his gratitude to the British Museum and the British Consulate-General Hong Kong for their support in the exhibition. He said that Hong Kong, as Asia's world city and a place where East meets West, aspires to forge closer partnerships with world-class cultural institutions, adding that he looked forward to further collaborations in the coming years.

     The exhibition features six Egyptian mummies between 1,800 and 3,000 years old and around 200 invaluable objects. It also demonstrates how archaeologists and other experts use the latest computerised tomography scanning technology to determine the age and gender of mummified bodies, and learn about their former dietary habits and state of health, the mummification process and religious practices without disturbing the cover of the mummies. It will allow the public to gain an in-depth understanding of the daily lives and funerary practices of the ancient Egyptians.

     In order to further enhance visitors' experiences, the Hong Kong Science Museum has designed and developed a multimedia programme and a series of interactive exhibits using the latest technologies, such as 3D projection mapping, virtual reality and holograms, to examine the myths behind the statues and symbols and comprehensively illustrate the technological development of ancient Egypt.

     Other officiating guests attending the ceremony were the Director of International Engagement of the British Museum, Ms Nadja Race; the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Anthony Chow; the Deputy Consul General of the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Mrs Esther Blythe; the Chairman of the Science Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Nancy Ip; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Science Museum, Ms Karen Sit.

     The exhibition is one of the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Trustees of the British Museum, and co-organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum and the British Museum. Solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, it is one of the exhibitions in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series.

     ​The exhibition will run until October 18. The Hong Kong Science Museum is located at 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East. For details of the exhibition and related programmes, please visit the website at hk.science.museum/ms/el2017/eindex.html or call 2732 3232 for enquiries.

Ends/Thursday, June 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:33

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