100 exhibits from British Museum to go on display at Hong Kong Heritage Museum (with photos)

     "A History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum", one of the main exhibitions to be presented by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum this year, will be open to the public from tomorrow (May 18). The exhibition features 100 specially selected items from the British Museum collection to tell the story of human civilisation and review common themes of human development from a new perspective.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony today (May 17), the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said the Government is committed to playing a pivotal role in fostering arts and cultural development in Hong Kong and promoting cultural exchanges with the rest of the world. He said he was delighted to note that this exhibition will further demonstrate Hong Kong's strength as a vibrant city for art and cultural exchange.
 
     Mr Cheung also extended his gratitude to the British Consulate-General Hong Kong and the British Museum for their continuous and ardent support in bringing treasures to Hong Kong; and to the sponsor, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its generous support.
 
     The exhibition, which is based on a popular radio programme by the BBC and the British Museum, uses 100 objects selected from the encyclopedic collections of the British Museum to tell the story of human civilisation and showcase the essence of global culture across 2 million years.
 
     The exhibits are selected from various geographical areas and include the first human stone tool from Africa; evidence of the first city from Iraq's "The Standard of Ur"; 50 manillas (a form of currency) from the slave trade; a ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle of Darwin's world voyage; and Japanese artist Hokusai's famous woodblock print "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" from the series "36 Views of Mt Fuji". Each object tells a story that invites the viewer to travel in time and to far corners of the world.
 
     In tandem with the exhibition, the museum has specially arranged a display in the Education Gallery with the theme of 100 historical items about Hong Kong. A series of education programmes including talks, guided tours of the exhibition, activities for students and children, workshops for young and elderly people, social harmony events and cross-generational programmes will also be held to arouse visitors' interest in world history, culture and art.
 
     Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Andrew Heyn; the Director of International Engagement of the British Museum, Ms Nadja Race; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Anthony Chow; the Chairman of Museum Advisory Committee, Mr Stanley Wong; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Ms Fione Lo.
 
     The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Trustees of the British Museum, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the British Museum, and 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 September 9. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is located at 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin. For details of the exhibition and related programmes, please visit the website www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid257.html or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.