HK Museum of History Receives 24,000 Historic Photos from Moonchu Foundation, Launches New Exhibition.

2024-10-22 19:00 Last Updated At：19:08

Hong Kong Museum of History to display early Chinese photography collection donated by Moonchu Foundation

The Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) has received a generous donation of more than 24 000 invaluable photos of a Chinese photography collection from the Moonchu Foundation. Most of the donated photos were taken in the late Qing and the Republican period and feature a wide range of contents and subject matters, which form a rare and comprehensive collection of Chinese photography. It is also the largest donation of a Chinese photography collection received by the museum. The HKMH will stage the exhibition "In Retrospect: The Early Chinese Photography Collection of Moonchu Foundation" starting tomorrow (October 23), displaying over 500 selected photographs from the donation.

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Hong Kong Museum of History to display early Chinese photography collection donated by Moonchu Foundation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Hong Kong Museum of History to display early Chinese photography collection donated by Moonchu Foundation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

As an expression of gratitude to the Foundation, the HKMH will name its Special Exhibition Gallery the "Moonchu Historical Images and Culture Gallery", which will feature exhibitions from the Moonchu collection and exhibitions related to Chinese history and culture.

The ceremony of the Moonchu Collection donation, gallery naming and opening of the "In Retrospect: The Early Chinese Photography Collection of Moonchu Foundation" exhibition was held today (October 22) at the HKMH. Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that this valuable and extensive collection of rare and complete images was collected by the Moonchu Foundation over the years in different places. Driven by their passion for Chinese culture, they specifically donated this collection to the HKMH, allowing these precious artifacts to be permanently preserved on Chinese soil. This donation not only significantly enriches the collections of the HKMH, but more importantly, provides excellent materials for studying modern Chinese society and increasing the public's understanding of Chinese history from a century ago. He hopes that the selfless donation of the foundation and the enthusiasm for promoting Chinese culture will encourage more people to donate cultural relics related to Chinese history, telling good Chinese stories through these artifacts.

Moonchu Foundation representative Mr Chang Tsong-zung said that the "Moonchu Historical Images and Culture Gallery" and the donation are made possible through the dedicated efforts of the curators and staff members of the HKMH over the years. Their commitment to passing on the torch of history and benefiting society is both admirable and deserving of appreciation.

Other officiating guests included representatives from the Moonchu Foundation, Mr Chang Chi-wei and Mr Chang Tsong-zung; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam; and the Museum Director of the HKMH, Mr Terence Cheung.

Most of the selected photographs in this exhibition have never been publicly displayed before. The contents cover major historical events such as the Second Opium War, the Self-Strengthening Movement, the First Sino-Japanese War, the Invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance and the Russo-Japanese War. There are also photographs depicting the urban landscapes, historic buildings and people's livelihood during the late Qing and the Republican period, as well as specimens of different photographic materials and formats which reflect the development of early photography.

Highlight exhibits include the image of Praia Grande Bay, Macao, which was taken 180 years ago and is one of the earliest photographs of China in existence today; the works of Chinese and foreign photographers, such as the stereoscopic photos taken by American photographer James Ricalton in 1900; landscape photographs taken by famous Chinese photographer Lai Fong; photos known as "Cartes de visite" in the size of a calling card, which were popular for exchanges in social gatherings during the 19th century; as well as some glass negatives; other stereoscopic photographs and hand-coloured photographs; photo albums, and more.

An interactive area is featured in the exhibition. Visitors can use stereograph viewers to view stereoscopic photos and create their own photo album with selected old photographs. There is also a comparison of old and new photos on aerospace, infrastructure, agricultural development and people's livelihood, illustrating how China has developed by leaps and bounds in the past century.

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the HKMH and the Moonchu Foundation. In collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, it is one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series and also one of the events of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival. The exhibition will run until February 3 next year. Admission is free. For more information on the exhibition, please visit hk.history.museum/en/web/mh/exhibition/Moonchu-Exhibition.html or call 2724 9042 for enquiries.

Established in 2007, the mission of the Moonchu Foundation supports culture and education-related research, publications and talks. The Foundation hopes that the donation could enrich the HKMH's displays and enhance research on historical images and history education, allowing members of the public to learn more about the traditional culture and the development of modern China through the research and display of the early Chinese photographs.

The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound culture of China. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

19 Temporary Heat Shelters Open in Hong Kong Amid Very Hot Weather Warning

2024-10-22 17:00 Last Updated At：17:08

HAD opens temporary heat shelters

The Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (October 22).

The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:

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Central and Western -

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall

3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex

2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern -

Causeway Bay Community Centre

3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern -

Lei Tung Community Hall

Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai -

Wan Chai Activities Centre

LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:

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Kowloon City -

Hung Hom Community Hall

1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices

42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong -

Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre

71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po -

Shek Kip Mei Community Hall

G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin -

Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre

45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong -

Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre

60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories Districts:

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Islands -

Tung Chung Community Hall

G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing -

Kwai Shing Community Hall

Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung

North -

Cheung Wah Community Hall

Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung -

Hang Hau Community Hall

G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin -

Lung Hang Estate Community Centre

Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po -

Tai Po Community Centre

2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan -

Lei Muk Shue Community Hall

G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun -

Butterfly Bay Community Centre

Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long -

Long Ping Community Hall

Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long -

Tin Yiu Community Centre

Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document:www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

HK Museum of History Receives 24,000 Historic Photos from Moonchu Foundation, Launches New Exhibition.

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