F
rom its humble beginnings in
a small site in Stanley’s historic
Murray House with only two
galleries, the Hong Kong
Maritime Museum (HKMM) now boasts
13 galleries, a shop and a café, all
easily accessible at the Central Ferry
Pier 8. The museum spans four spacious
floors, with a deck to view the city
skyline whilst watching ferries and
vessels criss-cross Victoria Harbour.
The HKMM is the place to
appreciate Hong Kong’s maritime
heritage past, present and future.
Thankfully, it’s oceans apart from a
dusty old museum. Instead, maritime is
made magical using art, ship models,
interactive displays and 21st century
technology to create an innovative
attraction with exhibitions, dynamic
displays and educational events.
Seafaring stories of settlers, travellers,
traders, pirates and battleships are
brought to life.
Visitors will experience Hong
Kong’s growth from small fishing village
to major world port city, with huge
modern container and cruise terminals.
Learn about fishing junks and tea
clippers; sail, steam and diesel power;
water sports, from dragon boating to
yachting; and our oceans’ future.
To help kids learn in an enjoyable,
light-hearted way, HKMM has a
dedicated education centre with
Caroline Lang, head of education and
public programmes, and Annette Lo,
education programme coordinator,
at the helm. Last summer, Caroline
and Annette started a children’s
programme with family activities on the
first Sunday of every month in a bright
corner of B Deck. Overlooking the
harbour, the family corner is run on a
free, drop-in basis from 2pm to 5pm.
Sunday sessions include children’s
picture books, puzzles and toys about
boats and sailing. According to
Annette, a wooden ship with different
sizes of cargo to be loaded without
tipping is especially popular with all
ages. Children enjoy using activity
sheets to locate and draw objects
around the museum. Sometimes
workshops are linked to an exhibition,
like a recent collaboration with a
local artist who’d created an ocean
conservation installation that let kids
create key rings of endangered sea
creatures.
This summer holiday, Annette
and Caroline will run weekly activities.
Expect interactive presentations, family
tours and a re-run of a successful
photography workshop. The popular
Sea Bandits
gallery (all about pirates!)
will be brought to life during dramatised
tours, complete with costumed
characters. Check the website for
details:
This summer’s special exhibition
Palaces of the Seas
, about French
passenger liners, will surely prove popular
with numerous fascinating insights into
sea journeys, including photos and
menus. Kids can learn about life on-
board for passengers and crew, and
play deck games whilst adults recline
in a deckchair – the perfect way to
experience life on an ocean wave whilst
remaining firmly on dry land!
Afterwards, head up to the
rooftop restaurant to discuss sea stories
over tasty rations at Café 8, a social
enterprise run by The Nesbitt Centre.
Whatever the weather, set sail soon for
maritime magic.
We spend a lot of time on, in or near the water, but how much
do we know about Hong Kong’s centuries of coastal culture?
Set sail to discover stories of the seas, writes
Gillian Johnston.
Shipshape
28
Playtimes
