DISCOVER HONG KONG'S KALEIDOSCOPE OF ART AND CULTURE

Every facet of Hong Kong's art, culture and history is intriguing. And the best way to discover this kaleidoscope is through the Meet the People revamped programme offered by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and with a Museum Pass.

The Meet the People programme, offered free of charge, gives visitors and locals alike the opportunity to meet some of Hong Kong's cultural connoisseurs and experts. There's a programme for every day of the week and an activity and a subject to suit every taste.

The active may choose to join Ms Pandora Wu and Mr William Ng in a courtyard overlooking spectacular Hong Kong Harbour for a Tai Chi class, where participants learn to balance the yin and yang of the mind and body. Or perhaps a talk on Kung Fu and a chance to practise one of the Chinese Martial Arts will appeal. Thus enervated, a self-guided Heritage and Architecture walk in one of three fascinating areas may be next on the agenda. Or choose a guided Architecture Tour to the heart of Central to discover the history and modern landmarks of Hong Kong.

After all that activity, a nice cup of tea will be welcome. Join expert Mr Simon Chan at a teahouse inside the traditional Chinese courtyard of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and learn the magical lore of this marvellous potion and how to prepare it properly.

Shopping is on the itinerary for most visitors to Hong Kong. And in this department a little knowledge can be a valuable thing. The Meet the People programme offers talks on Pearl Grading and Appreciation, on Antiques, on Jade Grading and Appreciation and even on the art of Chinese Clothing. After all these talks - each given by a connoisseur - participants will not only be more appreciative of each art form, but will also be able to identify genuine articles and thus be in a position to shop more wisely.

After a busy morning or afternoon shopping, what could be more pleasant than a boat ride? Board an authentic tradition al Chinese junk any Thursday afternoon or early evening and enjoy Hong Kong's spectacular skyline on the Duk Ling Ride in Victoria Harbour.

Feng Shui may be a fashionable concept, but how many people really understand it? Now visitors to Hong Kong can join a Feng Shui Class and learn as expert Alex Yu unravels the mystery of positioning objects in harmony with nature to ensure and create good fortune in home or office.

Museums play an important part in the cultural landscape of Hong Kong, and with a Museum Pass ($6 Can.) visitors can enjoy unlimited access to six of Hong Kong's major museums for one week from the date of issue. All tastes are catered to in these fine museums. Art enthusiasts will enjoy the fine Hong Kong Heritage Museum at Sha Tin in the New Territories. And visitors who are there on a Saturday afternoon can enjoy yet another Meet the People activity: the Cantonese Opera Appreciation Tour in the Opera Heritage Hall, together with a live performance.

History buffs will revel in the offerings of the Hong Kong Museum of History in Kowloon, where a multi-media Hong Kong Story exhibition outlines the fascinating development of Hong Kong over the years. And for those who would welcome a guided tour of the exhibition, the Meet the People programme has arranged for a museum docent to take visitors through the exhibition every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday.

It is said that a picture tells a thousand words, and nowhere is that truer than in the Historical Pictures Gallery of Kowloon's Hong Kong Museum of Art, where the events and lifestyles of the people of Hong Kong, Macau and China in the 18th and 19th centuries are revealed.

Scientists and space enthusiasts are also catered to in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Science Museum features a 22-metre high Energy Machine which, when activated, triggers a series of displays to produce spectacular audio-visual effects demonstrating various forms of energy. While at the Kong Kong Space Museum, the Space Theatre, one of the largest planetariums in the world, features exciting and educational Omnimax and Sky Shows.

Science and history merge at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, where visitors can discover the enormous Brennan Torpedo Station, a super secret at the end of the 19th century and an installation that terrified the navies of the world.

The free talks and activities of the Meet the People programme take place on different days of the week and in locations all around Hong Kong. Potential participants will find a brochure giving full details of day, time and place at the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Visitor Information & Services Centres. The Museum Pass can also be purchased at these Centres.

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