Over a hundred magnificent clocks and watches, most of which were introduced to China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties or manufactured by the Qing government, will soon be displayed in Hong Kong.  From tomorrow until 10 April 2019, an exhibition titled The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Treasures of Time will be held at the Hong Kong Science Museum, merging science, history and art. Visitors will 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.

Today (6 December), the Club's Chairman Anthony W K Chow joined HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Carrie Lam, Secretary for Home Affairs the Hon Lau Kong-wah, The Palace Museum's Deputy Director Ji Tianbin, London Science Museum Group's Director Ian Blatchford and other guests at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Mr Chow expressed gratitude to The Palace Museum for continuously bringing its precious treasures to Hong Kong, another recent example being the Longevity and Virtues: Birthday Celebrations of the Qing Emperors and Empress Dowagers exhibition. "Arts, Culture and Heritage is one of the four strategic focus areas of the Club's Charities Trust," he said. "We are dedicated to building a culturally vibrant Hong Kong, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion. Looking forward, we will continue to co-operate with different parties to bring world-class exhibitions to the city, allowing Hong Kong people to appreciate treasures from different places, centuries and cultures."

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Treasures of Time is exclusively sponsored by the Club's Charities Trust, displaying about 120 magnificent clocks and watches 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, will be displayed outside The Palace Museum for the first time. There will also be sections illustrating the workshops of European craftsmen during the 18th Century, including displays of watch and clockmakers' tools from Britain collected by the London Science Museum.

Alongside these treasures, the exhibition will make 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. A series of supporting educational activities, including guided tours, workshops and outreach programmes, will also be organised. 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 including 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.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city's major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.