The opening ceremony of the exhibition For the People – Sun Yat-sen and Macao took place at 5pm on Friday, the 23rd of September, at the Macao Museum. Presiding over the opening ceremony was the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Cheong U, in the company of the Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao S.A.R. Mao Siwei, the Director of the Liaison Office Culture and Education Department Liu Weining, the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Ung Vai Meng, the granddaughter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Lily Sun, the Committee Member of the Cultural Consultative Committee Lei Pang Chu, the President of the General Union of the Neighbourhood Associations of Macau Leung Heng Teng and the The President of the Chinese Educators Association of Macau Lei Pui Lam. Organised by the Macao Museum, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the exhibition showcases nearly 235 precious and original cultural artefacts, gathered from amongst various museums and individual collectors in Macao and several Mainland Chinese cities. The objects reveal the close connection that exists between Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Macao, and some of the rarer items are being displayed in public for the very first time. With the Xinhai Revolution serving as the historical backdrop, the exhibition is divided into four themes: 'Macao, a port for setting sail to a great life', 'Macao, a cradle for nurturing revolution', 'Macao, a warm place to entrust to family love' and 'Macao, a small city bound closely with the pioneer'. Given its special political environment, Macao contributed in a unique manner to the Xinhai Revolution, the centennial of which is being celebrated this year. Macao, which once served as a shelter for the revolutionaries, has close ties with Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Exhibits will be displayed by means of relic displays and multi-media devices offering both images and videos. With this exhibition, the Organiser hopes to shed light on the important role Macao played during the Revolution. Through the display of images and written documents, exhibition-goers will be able to better understand the historical significance of the Revolution and Macao's contribution to it. The exhibition also seeks to expose the strong, deep roots that Dr. Sun Yat-sen and his family put down Macao, explaining his eternal presence here and the fond memories Macao people hold for Dr. Sun Yat-sen to this day. In solemn commemoration of the Centennial of the Xinhai Revolution, the Cultural Affairs Bureau and various departments under its auspices have collaborated on a series of activities, all of which will be held in the Macao Museum Auditorium: 'Allegiance of Revolutionaries: Seminar commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution' on 24th September from 9:30am to 5:30pm; 'The Macanese Community and the 1911 Revolution' by Dr. Li Changsen on 29th October; and 'Newspaper Industry in Macao around the 1911 Revolution' by Dr. Lam Iok Fong on 12th November. The exhibition will run from 24th September to 11th December, open to the public Tuesdays to Sundays (public holidays included) from 10am to 6pm (doors close at 5.30pm). For more information regarding the exhibition, please call (853) 2835 7911 during office hours or visit the Macao Museum website at www.macaumuseum.gov.mo. For more information regarding the commemorative activities held in conjunction with the Centennial of the Xinhai Revolution, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo.
