Jockey Club-sponsored Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong exhibition opens

06/21/2012

As one of the highlight events to celebrate HKSAR’s 15th Anniversary, The Hong Kong Jockey Club-sponsored “A Lofty Retreat from the Red Dust: The Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong” exhibition was opened today (21 June) by Club Steward Anthony Chow, HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Director-General, General Office, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Ma Zhangling, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity, Culture and Sports Department of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Liu Hanqi, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing, Palace Museum Director Dr Shan Jixiang and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Betty Fung as the officiating guests.

As a sole sponsor with a donation of HK$6.1 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the exhibition is being jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and Palace Museum, and is open from 22 June until 14 October at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. It is the first exhibition to open its doors to the public out of the two spectacular exhibitions in which the Trust has donated with more than HK$21 million to LCSD to stage in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the HKSAR.

The Club believes it is important to give local residents the chance to learn more about their nation’s rich heritage and looks forward to bringing many more exhibitions like this to the city. It is hoped that the exhibition will enhance the understanding of Chinese history amongst local residents especially the younger generation and strengthen their sense of national identity.

In the past twenty years, the Trust had donated HK$1.5 billion for the promotion and development of arts and culture in the city, covering both hardware and software projects. Since 1960 the Trust’s strong commitment to nurturing the city’s development was reflected in its staunch support of arts and cultural projects including the establishment of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, supporting the Hong Kong Arts Festival for 40 years, as well as being the sole sponsor of the hugely popular “River of Wisdom – Animated Version of the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival” in 2010. For this year alone, the Trust has supported the 20th Edition of Le French May and its Picasso exhibition, The Hong Kong International a cappella Festival and a 12-month education programme and funded the four traditional festivals that are inscribed as National Intangible Culture Heritage.

The “A Lofty Retreat from the Red Dust: The Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong” exhibition features 93 items of painting and calligraphy, furniture, mural paintings, architectural elements and religious art from the Palace Museum in Beijing in particular from the Qianlong Garden. Complementing the exhibits are multi-media programmes that take visitors on a spectacular visual journey back to the secret garden. Various educational, arts and community programmes are also provided for the public. Furthermore, the Trust’s donation also covers free transportation for schools and registered non-profit- making organisations arranged by LCSD to join the exhibition.

The other exhibition “The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China’s First Emperor” which is also solely sponsored with a donation of HK$15.4 million by the Trust, will be staged next month at the Hong Kong Museum of History. Jointly presented by LCSD and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, the exhibition will showcase 120 items and sets of cultural relics of the pre-Qin period and Qin dynasty including 20 terracotta figures and Qin dynasty jade and gold ornaments.

To further celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China, the Club will stage The Hong Kong Reunification Cup and The 18 Districts Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse on 1 July, highlighting the way that horse racing brings together all sectors of the Hong Kong community, just as that historic date in 1997 reunited Hong Kong people with their compatriots.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.6 billion in 2011. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$15 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.