Hong Kong kicked off International Museum Day 2007 at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Festivities include the Museum Panorama - a two-day carnival with plenty of fun family activities.

The panorama, being held at the Cultural Centre today and tomorrow, opens from 10am to 6pm.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho said in the two-day panorama, participating museums and heritage institutions will provide academic, educational and entertaining activities to give the Hong Kong residents and visitors a better understanding of museums' functions and services.

They can learn more about the cultures of Beijing, Guangdong Province, Macau and Hong Kong as well, Dr Ho said.

Frequent museum visits encouraged

To encourage more frequent museum visits, those who buy a Leisure & Cultural Services Department museum yearly pass in May will get a special gift.

There are three types of yearly pass - individual, family and concessionary. Pass holders are entitled to unlimited admission to the Science Museum, excluding some special exhibitions, the Space Museum, excluding the Space Theatre's programmes, the Museum of Art, the Heritage Museum, the Museum of History, the Museum of Coastal Defence and the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum during the validity period.

They can also enjoy a10% discount on participation in the museums' extension activities.

For more details, click here or call 2732 3232.