The six major museums that are managed by the department are the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. In the interests of study, education and enjoyment, the museums acquire, conserve, research, exhibit and interpret tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The department also manages the Hong Kong Film Archive and seven smaller museums — the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, the Law Uk Folk Museum, the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum, the Sam Tung Uk Museum, the Hong Kong Railway Museum and the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.

	Law Uk Folk Museum.

Hong Kong Museum of Art

The Hong Kong Museum of Art aims to stimulate the public's interest in art through the presentation of a wide range of exhibitions and educational programmes. In 2005, the museum staged 15 exhibitions — 11 special and four permanent exhibitions — drawn from local and overseas sources. The highlight of the year was the exhibition entitled Impressionism: Treasures from the National Collection of France that was part of the Year of France in China programme. The exhibition not only provided the public with a precious opportunity to view internationally acclaimed impressionist masterpieces, but also marked the close cultural relationship between China and France. Another special exhibition, Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition 2005, a territory-wide art event, illustrated the most recent developments in contemporary Hong Kong art and the creativity of local artists. Throughout the year, the museum also maintained close relationships with eminent local collectors and artists, collaborating with them to present various thematic exhibitions on a diversity of subjects, including Auspicious Emblems: Chinese Cultural Treasures — 45^th Anniversary Exhibition of the Min Chiu Society, Chinese Paintings from the C.P. Lin Collection and Secret Codes — The Art of Hon Chi-fun.

	A highlight programme of the Year of France in China, Impressionism: Treasures from the National Collection of France, ran for about two months and attracted over 284 000 visitors.

		Cock and Chicken by Cui Zifan — Chinese Paintings from the C.P. Lin Collection.

To fulfil the educational functions and mission of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the museum took an active part in various major art education and extension programmes such as International Museum Day 2005, School Culture Day, the International Arts Carnival 2005 and a series of academic seminars that were co-organised with the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Close cooperation and interaction with the Education and Manpower Bureau was maintained for the In Touch with Visual Arts — Exhibitions and Education Programmes, which included the launch of the Seminar cum Workshop on the Resource Package 'In Touch with Visual Arts'. The exhibitions, together with the various education and extension programmes, attracted over 547 000 visitors and participants during the year.

Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware

Situated in Hong Kong Park, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware is a branch of the Hong Kong Museum of Art that is devoted to the display of Chinese tea ware and the promotion of tea culture.

Two special exhibitions were held in 2005. Pottery and Porcelain: A Journey of Discovery featured refined ceramics dating from the Ming dynasty to the 20^th century. Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters 2005 illustrated outstanding tea-drinking vessels that had been created by local potters who were selected from the ceramics competition that was held in 2004. The exhibitions, together with the education and extension activities, attracted over 195 000 visitors during the year.

	Pottery and Porcelain: A Journey of Discovery exhibition at Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware.

A teapot and cups in the form of books in ancient style — Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters 2005.

The potter created this heart-warming work based on the glass pigs given to her by her best friend — Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters 2005.

This work represents the potter's wish for mutual love and respect for all couples — Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters 2005.

Hong Kong Museum of History

2005 marked the 30^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Museum of History. A wide range of activities were organised to celebrate the event, including the Interactive Theatre that showed the social changes of Hong Kong from the late 1950s to its reunification with China in 1997, and the Open Day held on August 27. Over 9 900 people took part in these two programmes.

Besides the Hong Kong Story permanent exhibition, the Museum of History staged significant thematic exhibitions — Dr Sun Yat-sen and Nanyang, The Paris Reflections: Photographs from the Centre Pompidou and Impressions of the East: The Art of George Chinnery. The museum also maintained close cooperation with museums and cultural institutions in Guangdong and Macau. The History of Ta Teh Institute that was jointly organised with the Museum of the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou traced the history of this college established by the Chinese Communist Party in the 1940s, East Meets West: Cultural Relics from the Pearl River Delta Region unfolded the extent of commercial and cultural contact between China and the West in different dynasties by displaying cultural relics from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. Throughout the year, the museum attracted 562 750 visitors.

	The exhibition Paris Reflections: Photographs from the Centre Pompidou captured various styles of Paris through street scenes, buildings, portraits and everyday life.

		Portrait of a Chinese Woman holding a fan by George Chinnery.

	The Impressions of the East: The Art of George Chinnery exhibition displayed scenes of the Pearl River Delta in the 19th century.

	The History of Ta Teh Institute exhibition showcased numerous artefacts and historical photographs of Ta Teh Institute.

	A replica pottery model of a boat from the Eastern Han at the East Meets West: Cultural Relics from the Pearl River Delta Region exhibition.

To enhance public interest in local history and cultural heritage, the museum also organised diversified education activities and extension services, including guided tours, audio-guides, lectures, workshops, demonstrations, performances, field trips, in-house video programmes, School Culture Day programmes, the loaning of educational resources, travelling exhibitions, briefing sessions, international symposia, seminars and school competitions. The lecture series on the Growth of Hong Kong and the 60^th Anniversary of the Victory of the War of Resistance against Japan received overwhelming response from the public and schools. Moreover, the International Conference to Celebrate the 600^th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages of Discovery that was jointly organised with the University of Hong Kong provided a chance for scholars and experts from abroad and at home to discuss their latest findings on the subject. In addition, two public forums were held to collect the public's opinions on the establishment of the new Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum.

	Scholars and experts worldwide participating in the International Conference to Celebrate the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages of Discovery.

Kom Tong Hall, which houses the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, as it stood in the past (upper) and today (lower).

Apart from the Museum of Coastal Defence, the Museum of History manages two other branch museums — the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, which attracted 30 307 visitors and for which improvement works were completed in December, and the Law Uk Folk Museum, which attracted 23 502 visitors.

	A canopy was built to protect the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb against rainwater penetration.

Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence

Converted from the old Lei Yue Mun Fort in Shau Kei Wan, the Museum of Coastal Defence comprises two main areas — the Redoubt and the Historical Trail. Its permanent exhibition, 600 Years of Hong Kong's Coastal Defence, depicts the history of Hong Kong's coastal defence from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the British period and the Japanese invasion to the period after Hong Kong's reunification with China. Visitors can also explore the military relics in the Redoubt and on the Historical Trail, including the gun batteries, a torpedo station, caponiers and magazines.

Three major thematic exhibitions were held during the year — Archery Traditions of Asia, Serving Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Volunteers (jointly presented with the RHKR Volunteers Association), and The 8-Year War of Resistance (jointly presented with the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression). The museum also jointly organised the Life of Lin Zexu exhibition with the Lin Zexu Foundation and Ta Kung Pao at the Hong Kong Central Library, which attracted about 7 372 visitors over 10 days.

	The Opening Ceremony of The 8-Year War of Resistance exhibition.

	The older generation reminiscing about the hard days during the 8-year War of Resistance.

		Statue of Lin Zexu overseeing water works at the Gaojia Barrage while mourning his mother in 1825.

	The Life of Lin Zexu exhibition.

Opium pipes.

The museum organised a rich variety of educational activities, including guided tours to the galleries and the Historical Trail, lectures on specific topics, family workshops, demonstrations, drill and military music performances and field trips to stimulate interest in the military history and the coastal defence of Hong Kong. The museum attracted 177 533 visitors during the year.

	Workshops with Fun, organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, allowed children to learn military knowledge and history through educational activities.

Hong Kong Science Museum

Notable exhibitions of the year included the Decoding the Hair, The Robot Zoo, Optical Illusion and the SARS 100 Days — Overcome in Unity. Decoding the Hair, a cultural exchange project of the Year of France in China programme, allowed visitors to appreciate the science of hair in a fun and interactive way. The exhibition examined human hair in scientific, cultural and sociological contexts. The exhibition attracted 78 313 visitors. The Robot Zoo comprised eight robotic animals and 13 interactive exhibits. The exhibition aimed at introducing how animals have adapted to the environment by having sophisticated systems for moving, eating and other vital functions. The exhibition attracted 215 403 visitors. Optical Illusion was a collection of about 100 illusions that fooled eyes and brains and challenged perceptions. The exhibition featured large custom-designed showpieces, interactive exhibits and a collection of optical illusion artwork, posters and computer programmes.

	Kids engaging in a competitive game at the Robot Zoo exhibition, which attracted 215 403 visitors over a four-month period.

Another cultural exchange programme under the France-China Cultural Years concept enabled the staging of the Flowers in the Mirrors exhibition at the Palais de la Découverte, Paris, France from September 13, 2004 to March 6, 2005. Due to its exquisite theme and content, the exhibition attracted 261 353 visitors, compared to the 191 000 visitors to the Palais for the half year before. Supported by the Advisory Committee on the Promotion of the Fighting Spirit against SARS and co-organised with the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, the SARS 100 Days — Overcome in Unity exhibition served to pay tribute to local medical workers and citizens who fought against SARS in 2003.

		The Flowers in the Mirrors banner at Palais de la Découverte, Paris.

Opened on July 19, the 900-square metre Telecommunications Gallery introduced new technologies through an array of 59 exhibits, most of which are interactive. Parts of the exhibits were donated by PCCW Limited. The Life Sciences Hall was enhanced by the addition of new exhibits, including two fossil dinosaur eggs donated by the Nanyang Municipal Government and a finless porpoise donated by the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

	Two fossil dinosaur eggs donated by the Nanyang Municipal Government.

With aims of introducing the scientific research projects of local universities and disseminating knowledge of frontier technology, the Science News Corner staged three thematic exhibitions in 2005, namely Virtual Aquarium, Ozone Applications and Health Benefits of Tea, which were jointly developed by the museum and three local universities. In mid-March, Science Alive series was launched again at the museum. The exhibition Science Alive — DNA Explore, together with a 2.5-metre high DNA molecular model, was first shown in the Museum Lobby. A series of lectures, workshops and science dramas were then conducted in April and May.

	The Science News Corner exhibition Ozone Applications explored the recent development and potential applications of ozone technology.

	The Science News Corner exhibition Health Benefits of Tea introduced the ingredients and functions of tea, and the latest research findings by local academics.

	Over 200 students helped to build the DNA molecule model for display at the Science Alive — DNA Explore exhibition.

The Distinguished Chinese Scientists Lecture Series invited renowned scientists from the Mainland and Hong Kong to deliver lectures in early December. Five renowned scientists, Professors Zhao Zhongxian, Zeng Yi, Ou-Yang Ziyuen, S.M. Sun and S.Y. Tong, discussed the recent developments and achievements in their areas of frontier research, including superconductors, viruses and cancers, aerospace technology, genetic engineering and nanotechnology. The two-day event attracted about 1 300 participants.

	Distinguished Chinese Scientists Lecture Series.

Over the year, the museum continuously worked with academic institutions and professional bodies on a number of special projects to promote science. Among these were the Fun Science Competition, the Joint School Robotic Olympiad 2005, the Robot Animal Design Competition, the 8^th Primary Science Project Exhibition and the 38^th Joint School Science Exhibition.

In 2005, the museum's exhibitions and extension activities attracted more than 967 000 visitors and participants.

Hong Kong Space Museum

The Hong Kong Space Museum celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2005. Exhibitions, competition and a lecture series were organised for this purpose. A gala of star gazing was held together with astronomical societies on the evening of November 12 at the Avenue of Stars. About 60 telescopes were set up for viewing celestial objects by over 6 800 passers-by. During the year, the museum continued to promote astronomy and space science to the public through various exhibitions, programmes and activities.

	A gala of star gazing was held together with astronomical societies on the evening of November 12 at the Avenue of Stars.

On November 29, the museum jointly organised with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups a seminar in the Stanley Ho Space Theatre for the astronauts and delegates of Shenzhou-6 to meet the young professionals of Hong Kong.

	The Delegation of Shenzhou-6 Manned Space Flight Mission sharing its experience with young professionals in Hong Kong.

During the year, the museum published the Astrocalendar 2006. It also launched two Sky Shows, four Omnimax films and four School Shows. These attracted some 380 314 viewers. The museum organised 208 extension activities that attracted over 28 342 participants. Twelve temporary special exhibitions together with the permanent exhibits in the Hall of Astronomy and Hall of Space Science attracted more than 356 826 visitors.

	In April 2004, NASA launched Gravity Probe B, which made use of extremely precise gyroscopes to measure the drift of the spacecraft's orbit to verify the theory of General Relativity — Sky Show Albert Einstein.

	Wreckage in Izmit, Turkey after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in 1999 — Omnimax Show Forces of Nature.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Major exhibitions held in 2005 included From Eastern Han to High Tang: A Journey of Transculturation, Huizhou Vernacular Architecture, Spaces and Places, Essence of Purity: Exhibition to Commemorate the 100^th Birthday of Chao Shao-an and The Silk Road: Treasures from Xinjiang. Featuring some 300 national treasures from 14 provinces, most being grade-one relics, From Eastern Han to High Tang traced the artistic and cultural changes that took place in China from the 3^rd to 8^th centuries due to the arrival of non-Chinese peoples and the transmission of foreign religions, technologies and cultures. The exhibition had a total attendance of close to 300 000. Another blockbuster exhibition during 2005 was The Silk Road, which revealed the rich and diverse cultural landscape in Xinjiang from the Bronze Age to the 14^th century. The exhibits were assembled by the Xinjiang Cultural Heritage Bureau and included two rarely seen ancient Xinjiang mummies and a recently discovered wooden corpse.

		A wooden burial figure of a woman in silk garments from the Tang dynasty in the From Eastern Han to High Tang: A Journey of Transculturation exhibition.

	The Spaces and Places exhibition showcased designs that organically integrated the abstract notions of space within the uniqueness of the place in which the building is situated.

		Essence of Purity: Exhibition to Commemorate the 100th Birthday of Chao Shao-an features more than a hundred Chao's representative works, covering a rich variety of subject matter from flowers and birds, grasses and insects to landscapes and animals.

	One of the ancient corpses displayed at The Silk Road: Treasures from Xinjiang exhibition.

A wide variety of educational and extension activities such as seminars, lectures, field trips, performances, demonstrations, art camps, workshops and competitions were also organised. To celebrate International Museum Day, an exposition was held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on May 14 and 15 under the theme of 'museums bridging cultures'. Other than local museums, 41 heritage institutions from Guangdong Province and Macau also participated in the event.

	The exposition for International Museum Day 2005, Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

The exhibition programmes, together with the educational and extension activities, attracted more than 657 000 participants in 2005.

The Heritage Museum manages three branch museums — the Sam Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan, the Hong Kong Railway Museum in Tai Po and the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum in Sai Kung. Together they attracted more than 629 000 visitors during the year.

Hong Kong Film Archive

The Hong Kong Film Archive's major functions are to acquire, preserve, catalogue and document Hong Kong films and related materials. With a gross floor area of 7 200 square metres, its major facilities include a cinema, an exhibition hall, a resource centre and four temperature-controlled collection stores. It has already catalogued around 669 000 films and film-related materials, mainly through donations and deposits. Major acquisitions in this year included donations from Universe Films Distribution Company Limited, Emperor Motion Pictures, Pearl City Video Limited and Universe International Holdings Limited. During the year, eight thematic exhibitions, including Tricky Wonderland, Pearl River Delta: Movie • Culture • Life and Inspired by Jean Cocteau, were organised, and more than 450 screenings and seminars were held. In addition, the archive launched the Film Education Programme for Students and the Film Appreciation Programme for Senior Citizens to promote appreciation of Hong Kong film culture. The archive also conducted nearly 300 oral history interviews with film veterans and published Hong Kong Filmography V (1960-1964) and a number of film-related publications.

	A three-course meal inspired by Jean Cocteau's film titles — the Inspired by Jean Cocteau exhibition at the Hong Kong Film Archive.

	Film Education Programme for Students at the Hong Kong Film Archive.

The archive also collaborated with other cultural organisations and overseas archives to enhance the public's appreciation of cinematic arts. Its resource centre, equipped with computers, video booths and a rich collection of film-related reading materials, is well patronised by the public.

In 2005, the archive attracted 212 660 visitors.

Art Promotion Office

The Art Promotion Office organises wide-ranging activities to highlight local visual arts by focusing on public and community projects. The office places great importance on undertaking projects with different partners to further enhance art appreciation and participation.

One Public Art Scheme 2003/04 awarded artwork proposal was commissioned and installed in the new Ma On Shan Public Library. Under stage two of the New Face of Heritage — Installation of Public Artworks at Yat Tung Estate, Tung Chung project that was jointly organised with the Housing Department, 10 commissioned artworks were completed and installed in the estate. Seventy-two award-winning photos from the Camera Yuen Long: Art-in-Subways project were exhibited in the Yuen Long Theatre in May. The photographs will be reproduced in pictorial tiles by the Highways Department for placing on the walls of six subways in Yuen Long. Mobile Art Expedition, the third partnership project of the Art Promotion Office, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, New World First Bus Services Limited and New World First Ferry Services Limited was launched with a new partner, Citybus Limited, in July. Through open competition, 41 graphic works were selected and reproduced for display inside bus compartments and First Ferry Pier 5 in Central. The display began in December 2005 and was scheduled to run for six months. The Contemporary Croatian Drawing exhibition, sponsored by the Home Affairs Bureau and the department, exhibited 120 drawings from Croatia in the Exhibition Hall of the City Hall Low Block in August. The large-scale Lantern Painting Activity at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade was held in October. Fifty-nine local artists performed on-site painting and calligraphy on lantern surfaces. The completed works are on display at the promenade.

	New Face of Heritage — Installation of Public Artworks at Yat Tung Estate, Tung Chung, Stage II, jointly organised with the Housing Department, introduced art into the living community.

	The Camera Yuen Long: Art-in-Subways project set out to select photo works that feature the environmental and historical characteristics of the Yuen Long district.

		Fifty-nine artists performed on-site painting and calligraphy on lantern towers.

	After dark, the lanterns provided another charming view of the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.

The third Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme was launched in late 2004. Twelve exhibition proposals were selected from 124 entries. Among these nine individual artists and three art groups, there were established and budding artists who covered a wide range of art media, including mixed media, sculpture, architecture, illustration, Chinese ink painting, Western painting, ceramics and installation art. A launch exhibition that presented highlighted works from these 12 art units was held at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library in June. Exhibitions of individual selected units are scheduled to tour different venues in different districts from September 2005 through to 2007.

	The launch exhibition of the third Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme at the Hong Kong Central Library featured artwork in various media, such as ceramics, sculpture, western painting, ink painting and installation.

The Art Promotion Office is also responsible for the management of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. Its facilities, including art studios, a lecture theatre, a multi-purpose room and an exhibition hall, can be hired by the public at subsidised rates. The centre emphasises training in visual arts. The fourth Art Specialist Course lasting for nine months was specially designed for art lovers who wished to pursue structured professional art training in ceramics, printmaking, painting, sculpture or ink painting. An exhibition that featured the work of 55 graduates from the course was held in early 2006. Other collaborative art promotional activities included Raku Firing and Pottery workshops that were jointly organised with I-Kiln Studio, and Anhui-Hong Kong Graphics Art Exchange workshops that were jointly organised with the Hong Kong Graphics Society.

	Anhui-Hong Kong Graphics Art Exchange workshop.