Consultations on the Renovation of the Permanent Exhibition of the Kong Museum of History Excerpt of Minutes

1. Exhibition contents 1.1. Views on the existing Story exhibition Participants expressed their views on the existing Hong Kong Story permanent exhibition. A summary of their views is given below:  Gallery 1: The Natural Environment Most participants agreed that the natural history section should be scaled down and the focus placed on the relationship between Hong Kong’s natural environment and the historical development of humanity. Extreme climate conditions, unique ecological landscapes as well as geological changes and changes along the coastline were suggested as new topics by some participants.  Gallery 2: Prehistoric Hong Kong Some participants thought the prehistoric period and natural history sections could be combined into one gallery introducing the life of Hong Kong’s early inhabitants. New topics suggested by participants included the historic site in Tung Wan Tsai North, , and the relationship between Hong Kong and neighbouring regions.  Gallery 3: The Dynasties: From the Han to the Qing Several participants suggested that archaeological findings in recent years, such as the Song/Yuan dynasty site discovered at To Kwa Wan Station on the Sha Tin to Central Link, should be included as new topics. An increased focus on relations between Hong Kong and mainland China as well as the rest of the world, including the role Hong Kong played along the Maritime Silk Road and the relationship between Panyu and Hong Kong in earlier eras, was also proposed. At the same time, some participants suggested the addition of Song Wong Toi, Nga Tsin Wai, ancient industries, the history of Emperor Bing of the Song dynasty and piracy to the exhibition contents, while others felt that exhibits such as the tomb of the King of Nanyue was not very closely related to Hong Kong and could thus be removed.  Gallery 4: Folk Culture in Hong Kong Some participants expressed the opinion that the folk culture section could be removed and that there should be a clear distinction between the Hong

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Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. It was suggested that this section diverged from the chronological narration of the time tunnel and could be covered under a separate topic. With regard to topics, some participants thought the museum could do away with the categorisation by Han Chinese subgroups (Punti, Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo) and instead investigate the contributions made by different ethnic groups to Hong Kong’s social development. Other new topics that were suggested included intangible cultural heritage, ethnic migration, education for boat people and traditional clan clothing.  Gallery 5: The Opium War and the Cession of Hong Kong; Gallery 6: Birth and Early Growth of the City Suggestions made by participants regarding the content of the two galleries included a more extensive display on means of , Chinese teahouses and the woes brought upon China by the introduction of opium, although it was also mentioned that the film about the Opium War could be shortened. Other participants suggested that the location of the Mezzanine Floor was not visible enough and that it was therefore easy to miss the galleries.  Gallery 7: The Japanese Occupation Some participants felt that the Japanese occupation could be incorporated into the section on colonial history and also that the Museum of History should co-ordinate with the Museum of Coastal Defence to ensure that there was no overlap of exhibition contents here. At the same time, they proposed new topics, including people’s livelihoods during the war, war crimes (e.g. comfort women), the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China as well as the rest of the world during the war, the role of Hong Kong people and different races during the war, air raids conducted by the Allies on Hong Kong, negotiations between the Nationalist government and Britain on the return of Hong Kong and the preparations made by British forces for the war; more extensive display space should also be devoted to oral history, historical images and relics, according to participants.  Gallery 8: Modern Metropolis and the Return to China Most participants confirmed the need to add contents to this gallery, stating for example that more relics and videos could be displayed. In terms of topics, some participants felt that the section on finance could be removed, while more emphasis could be placed on rooftop primary schools and resettlement areas.

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1.2. Division of galleries Most participants agreed that the new permanent exhibition could be divided into a permanent gallery and a thematic gallery. The topics and contents presented in the thematic gallery could be changed periodically to maintain a freshness and sense of novelty, while the space should be allocated to the two galleries in a reasonable proportion. For the most part, participants felt that the chronological narration of history was suitable, as it provided the audience with a good grasp of historical developments, although some of them thought the time tunnel interrupted the flow of the exhibition theme. At the same time, some participants thought different routes could be designed based on the various topics and historical figures to allow visitors to approach history in their own way; in addition, the topics explored in the thematic gallery should echo those of the permanent gallery.

1.3. Historical period of the exhibition contents: The beginning and the end As far as the beginning was concerned, the majority of participants did not express any particular views, although some of them thought the narrative could begin with the life of ancient inhabitants in the era. With regard to the end, the majority of participants believed that the new permanent exhibition should cover developments after the handover in 1997, but there was no need to designate a particular year as the end, as the museum would then be able to update the exhibition contents regularly and keep abreast of the times. Some participants, however, believed it would be better to set a specific end year.

1.4. Main focus and perspective Several participants believed that the exhibition should focus primarily on society and people’s livelihoods and interpret history from the perspective and stories of local people; it should underscore Hong Kong’s unique character by showcasing the city’s interaction with mainland China and the rest of the world. Other participants thought the emphasis should be on major historical events and that more trivial incidents should not be covered in too much detail. Most participants contended that when presenting controversial historical issues the museum should maintain an impartial and politically neutral approach. Some believed that the exhibition should present to the audience historical developments in their entirety: even though the Museum of History and its branches all specialised in different areas, the permanent exhibition of the main museum should not ignore any important topics. Other participants thought the

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exhibition should focus on the less distant past and add more contents related to modern history.

1.5. Topics Participants offered their views on topics that should be emphasised and on new topics in the areas of: 1. History before the establishment of a free port: life before Hong Kong opened its port to foreign trade, the Portuguese invasion of Tuen Mun, etc. 2. Administration by the British colonial government: the history of the and the City of Victoria, political development in the colonial period and administrative styles of the British colonial government, public order and the judiciary, etc. 3. Relationship between mainland China and Hong Kong: the Coastal Evacuation and the subsequent lifting of the evacuation order in the early Qing dynasty, the two Opium Wars, relationship between the Tai Ping Heavenly Kingdom and Hong Kong, the three unequal treaties governing Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s political role in the late Qing dynasty and its role during outbreaks of wars in mainland China, Hong Kong as a gateway between mainland China and the rest of the world, Hong Kong’s role in Sino-foreign trade, Sino-Hong Kong relations in the 1950s and 1960s, Hong Kong’s role during the reform and opening up in mainland China, the impact of the 1997 handover, the formation of borders and Frontier Closed Areas, native and clan associations, immigrants from mainland China in the modern day, etc. 4. Link and interaction between Hong Kong and the world: relationship between Hong Kong and overseas Chinese compatriots, history of emigration by Hong Kong people, commercial and trade ties between Hong Kong and the world, Hong Kong’s role and function in international wars and Sino-foreign relations, cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and neighbouring regions, British influence on Hong Kong culture, etc. 5. Development of Hong Kong’s 18 districts: development of the 18 districts and new towns, district councils, history of the New Territories, development of streets in Hong Kong, construction of and changes in housing, public works, comparison of old and present photographs, reclamation and land development, etc. 6. Ethnic minorities: lives of different ethnicities and their contribution to Hong Kong’s urban development, etc. 7. Religion: six major religions in Hong Kong, etc.

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8. Renowned historical figures: prominent local families, historical relics related to revolutionaries, renowned figures in different sectors (such as Li Ka-shing, Louis Cha), etc. 9. Everyday life: clothing, food, housing and transportation, births, aging, illness and death, slang, the entertainment industry and popular culture, education, collective memories, traditional festivals, relationship between the government and people’s livelihoods, sports, women’s history, the spirit of Hong Kong people, cultural traditions, etc. 10. Charities: Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, etc. 11. Financial, industrial and commercial development: Hong Kong’s evolution from a fishing village to a financial hub, different means of trade, the stock market, the history of minting in Hong Kong in the mid-19th century, factories printing banknotes in Hong Kong, different industries including toys, textiles, the press and printing, food processing and food and beverage, shipping and transportation, Sino-Hong Kong trade, etc. 12. Hongkong Post: development of postal services, evolution of postboxes, etc. 13. : Hong Kong in the works of writers from different eras, etc. 14. Major political and social events: Seamen’s Strike of 1922, Canton-Hong Kong Strike of 1925, Hong Kong 1956 Riots, Hong Kong 1967 Riots, Movement, Diaoyu Movement, 1989 Democracy Movement, major incidents after the 1997 handover, etc. 15. War: woes of war, etc. 16. Thematic exhibitions related to historical anniversaries.

2. Display methods 2.1 Use of 1:1 scenes Most participants thought the 1:1 scenes left a deep impression on the audience and should thus continue to be used; at the same time, images, sounds, smells and other elements could be added to enhance the visitor’s experience. If the scenes took up too much space, however, it was suggested that the museum could choose the more important scenes to recreate, or replace them by scale models. Some participants thought too many 1:1 scenes complicated the route and could thus lead to visitors easily losing their way, and the museum was advised to pay attention to this.

When discussing the addition and/or removal of scenes, some participants thought the landscape and ecological scenes in Gallery 1, the beach and stone

5 sculptures in Gallery 2, as well as the Hakka house, the salt field and the scene of drying salted fish under the sun in Gallery 4 should be removed, while the junk, the ancestral hall and the Ghost King in Gallery 4, the fort in Gallery 5, the tram and the street of the olden days in Gallery 6 as well as the shops, the resettlement area and the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo in Gallery 8 should be kept. Participants suggested adding recreations of scenes involving old buses and police stations.

When it came to improving the scenes, participants believed that some of the scenes lacked a historical feel, as many of the exhibits were replicas and the sets were quite new; some suggested using multimedia technology in the scenes. Other participants thought that the museum could recreate the caved-in part of the courtyard in the Hakka dwelling in Gallery 4, the 1960s street scene in Gallery 8 could be expanded and the figure of a policeman could be added to the old street scene in Gallery 6. Meanwhile, participants concerned with the needs of wheelchair users thought accessibility to the scenes should be improved and a wheelchair-friendly tram simulation should be added.

2.2 Use of multimedia The majority of participants believed that the exhibitions of a history museum should focus on the display of relics, and multimedia programmes should be an supplementary feature. They agreed, however, that multimedia programmes (such as virtual reality and 3D projections) could be added alongside the display of relics and scenes to present complicated exhibition contents in an easy-to-understand manner. Multimedia programmes could also be used to present different types of contents, such as historical images, renowned historical figures, historical incidents and oral histories. Given the popularity of new technologies including virtual reality, 3D projection and smartphone technologies, the participants hoped these could be applied in the future permanent exhibition. At the same time, some participants thought it was necessary to update the video programmes in the exhibition gallery periodically.

There were also participants, on the other hand, who had reservations about the use of multimedia technologies, believing that the exhibition galleries should offer a quiet environment so that visitors would not be disturbed and opposing an overdependence on mobile applications. Some participants were concerned about the needs of disabled people and suggested adding audio descriptions, subtitles and sign language translations to the programmes; the height of

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wheelchair users should also be taken into account when positioning the screens.

2.3 Interactive and experiential activities Most participants agreed that there should be more interactive and experiential activities; for example, role play activities could be added to the scenes to help stimulate the interest of the audience. Other suggestions included performances, drama presentations, dressing-up activities, quizzes and allowing the audience to touch replicas of relics. Some participants addressed the needs of children and students and expressed the opinion that interactive and experiential activities, such as interactive corners and exhibits, would allow young visitors to acquire knowledge and have fun at the same time. Some participants also broached the needs of disabled people and pointed out that the interactive areas should have enough space to accommodate wheelchair users.

3 Renovation work and supplementary facilities 3.1 During renovation Some participants believed all of the galleries should be closed so that the renovation work could be completed as quickly as possible, proposing that exhibitions on Hong Kong history could be held in other locations during this period. Several participants also thought that two companies should be responsible for the design and production of the exhibitions to ensure service quality.

3.2 Museum space and facilities Most participants believed that the exhibition space should be expanded, and they offered various suggestions, such as adding new floors, hanging exhibits from the ceiling and displaying large exhibits outside the museum. Participants generally preferred a spacious museum interior. Other views on improving the utilisation of space included open plan designs and the establishment of an integrated screening room to replace the independent theatres.

Concerning the interior design, most participants believed the decoration of the museum should have a historical feel and that the design should consider all of the facilities as a whole. They also thought the museum should pay attention to the atmosphere created for visitors, proposing that the escalators currently connecting the two floors should be incorporated into the exhibition design to maintain a consistent historical feel.

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In terms of the gallery design, some participants expressed the opinion that the museum should offer a clear visitor route, link the permanent gallery with the thematic gallery, improve the passage leading to the galleries as well as the lighting in the galleries and add seats in the galleries. Moreover, several participants proposed the addition of various facilities to cater to different needs, including a history learning corner, lockers, a Wi-Fi connection, a covered but light-filled winding corridor at the museum entrance and more toilets.

As far as the Museum Shop and Museum Café were concerned, some participants believed that the merchandise sold in the shop should have a rich historical flavour, including souvenirs related to the exhibitions or historical sites in Hong Kong and books on Hong Kong history. Several thought that history-related film footage could be shown in the café to create a suitable ambience.

3.3 Barrier-free exhibition contents and facilities The majority of the disability organisations attending the meeting asked the museum to add a number of barrier-free facilities, Internet software and aids to cater to the needs of the disabled, and their suggestions are summarised below:  For the visually impaired The museum could utilise various technologies such as smartphone applications, electronic audio guides, touch reading pens and audio navigation systems to help visually impaired individuals enjoy the exhibition. In terms of the gallery layout, it was proposed that the text on the exhibition panels should be enlarged and the colour contrast enhanced. At the same time, the lighting in the galleries should be improved, while the galleries could be distinguished by using different thematic colours, and floor lights could be fitted to mark out the visitor route clearly. Other suggestions included adding tactile warning strips to the edge of steps and along downward slopes as well as fitting LED lights to the floorboards and steps in the theatre(s). The café should also provide Braille or talking menus.

 For wheelchair users The exhibits and exhibition panel texts should be positioned at a height suitable for wheelchair users. The exhibition galleries should have enough space to accommodate wheelchairs, while steps should be avoided in the galleries. Inside the theatre(s), a raised platform should be built behind the last row of seats for wheelchair users. The materials of floor should be carefully chosen since the

8 manual wheelchair is difficult to move on carpets. With regard to other auxiliary facilities, the height of the counters should be adjusted to accommodate wheelchair users, and the museum should consider installing wheelchair-friendly escalators, for example with larger steps or steps that combined two smaller steps.

 For the hearing impaired In addition to text descriptions of the exhibition, sign language videos or on-site sign language interpreters could also be offered. Regarding other supplementary facilities, an induction loop system could be installed at the Information Counter to help the hearing impaired communicate with museum staff.

 For the intellectually challenged Taking into consideration the comprehension abilities of the intellectually challenged, simplified textual descriptions and guided tours should be provided.

 Lifts The existing lifts in the museum are relatively small and the audio announcements can be difficult to hear clearly. Larger lifts and a video announcement system were proposed.

 Other suggestions The museum should train its staff to help them understand the needs of people with different disabilities, while appropriate customer services should be offered to the disabled so that they can enjoy the exhibitions and take part in the activities. The museum should also take into account the needs of the disabled by providing sufficient signage. At the same time, automatic doors should be installed at the entrance/exit of facilities such as toilets. In addition to providing defibrillators, the museum should make modifications to the display cabinets and panels, for example using round corners or installing corner guards. The museum facilities should be designed in a way that allows disabled individuals to tour the exhibitions freely and independently. The existing Design Manual – Barrier Free Access 2008 is out of date, and the museum should set a standard for its facilities today that is higher than the one specified in the handbook.

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