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Over a hundred magnificent clocks and watches, most of them introduced to China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties or manufactured by the Qing government, are now on display at “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Treasures of Time” exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

Sponsored exclusively by the Club's Charities Trust and running until 10 April 2019, the exhibition merges science, history and art. Visitors have an opportunity to appreciate a number of exquisite timepieces, learn more about the significance of time and the mechanisms of clocks from a scientific perspective, and gain a better understanding of the history and significance of cultural exchanges, as well as the technological achievements they inspired.

The magnificent clocks and watches are from the collection of The Palace Museum. Some items were brought to China from Britain, France and Switzerland during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, while others were manufactured by local craftsmen of the Qing government or from Guangzhou. Several British clocks, repaired only in recent years, are being displayed outside The Palace Museum for the first time. There are also sections illustrating the workshops of European craftsmen during the 18th Century, including displays of watch and clockmakers' tools from Britain collected by London’s Science Museum.

Alongside these treasures, the exhibition makes use of the latest technology, animations, models and interactive exhibits to explain in a lively and interesting way the mechanisms of ancient Chinese measuring instruments, mechanical timepieces and atomic clocks. Also available is a series of supporting educational activities, including guided tours, workshops and outreach programmes. Experts from The Palace Museum have been invited to provide an in-depth introduction to the making of timepieces.

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. Previous exhibitions have included “Eternal Life – Exploring Ancient Egypt”; “Hall of Mental Cultivation of The Palace Museum – Imperial Residence of Eight Emperors”; and “Digital Dunhuang – Tales of Heaven and Earth”.