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“Home office” may be a modern term but the concept is definitely nothing new. The Hall of Mental Cultivation in Beijing's 'Forbidden City' was the imperial residence of eight Qing emperors, including Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. It was also where the emperors conducted their state affairs, hence it maintained great political and cultural significance.

While the Hall of Mental Cultivation is closed for large-scale renovation, an exhibition in The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series called “Hall of Mental Cultivation of The Palace Museum – Imperial Residence of Eight Emperors” showcases over 200 priceless relics for the first time outside the Palace.

Solely sponsored by the Club’s Charities Trust, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to learn more about the architectural characteristics and history of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It is now open to the public at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum until 15 October.

This exhibition is one of the celebration events for the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Artefacts on display include seals, jadeware and calligraphy by emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong. Exhibits of special note include a pair of zitan hanging panels with gilded cranes and rabbits in a bamboo grove; a zitan throne with jade inlay; and a jade seal with the characters for 'valued collection of the super-sovereign'.  Their original setting in the Hall will be replicated with the aid of multimedia elements, highlighting its special architectural and decorative features.

To give the public a wider understanding of the exhibits and the historical events surrounding them, an education corner will be set up where different topics are explored through novel approaches. A lecture series and conference, along with outreach workshops, will also be organised. For details, please visit http://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid245.html.

“Arts, Culture and Heritage” is one of the Trust's strategic focus areas, aimed at building a culturally vibrant Hong Kong, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion. This year, the Trust has brought exhibits from three of the world's leading museums to Hong Kong, namely the Louvre Museum in France, the British Museum in England and the Palace Museum in China, so that local residents and visitors can enjoy the precious collections of different times and cultures from around the world.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series is a partnership between the Club's Charities Trust and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Launched in 2012, it supports two to three major exhibitions each year, all of which are complemented by educational programmes. They include “Eternal Life – Exploring Ancient Egypt”, which is currently being held at the Hong Kong Science Museum. In the coming week, there will be one more exhibition under the Series, showcasing the birthday celebrations of the Qing Emperors and Empress Dowagers.

Another Club-funded exhibition, “Inventing le Louvre: From Palace to Museum over 800 Years” can still be enjoyed until 24 July at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. This exhibition is one of the major programmes supported by the Club's Charities Trust as part of Le French May, with over 100 priceless art works from the Louvre Museum on display.