In order to promote public understanding of the important role played by museums, the 26 participating museums and organizations decided to grant the public free admission to more than 80 exhibitions from May 16 to 18. There will also be free guided-tours, lectures on museum work and exhibitions, demonstrations of art and traditional handicrafts, dim-sum making, model making and children's programs.

It will mark the third year that Hong Kong has observed the celebration, which was inaugurated on May 18, 1978 by the International Council of Museums.

As part of the three-day marking activities, Museum Panorama, a festival of games, exhibits and educational activities, will also take over the piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Center.

The theme of Museum Panorama is "Discovering Museums." Attractions include scientific demonstrations, mime performances, an origami workshop, astronomy kit making and solar observation, Cantonese opera dressing, and tank model making, among other events.

(People?s Daily May 12, 2003)