Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China: Maritime Carnival

The Marine Department holds the Maritime Carnival to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Hong Kong Maritime Museum (HKMM) has been engaged to administer the Carnival and supported by eleven maritime related organisations. HKMM is thrilled to announce a day of celebrative and educational activities on 6 October 2024, offering free admission. This special occasion will feature a vibrant array of activities designed to engage members of the public and their families while deepening their understanding of Hong Kong's rich maritime history and industry.

Visitors will have the opportunity to partake in a variety of interactive experiences, including guided docent tours, game and information booths, marine movie screenings, maritime-themed talks and seafarers’ exploration worksheets for children. Among the standout events are the “Oil and Marine Refuse Cleansing Demonstration” in which visitors can observe the measures and efforts of the Marine Department in keeping our harbour clean. Noteworthy vessels such as the Marine Refuse Scavenging Boat and the Oil Response Vessel will conduct demonstrations in the waters near the museum, with narrators providing insights into their vital roles in protecting the marine environment. For those unable to attend in person, these demonstrations will also be accessible via live streaming.

Additionally, registered visitors will enjoy “Shipboard Visit” to the Marine Department’s Patrol Launch (MARINE 1) and Hydrographic Surveying Vessel (HYDRO 2). This unique opportunity allows visitors to step aboard these operational vessels, gaining a closer look at their design and function. Each visitor will receive a souvenir from the Marine Department as a memento of their experience. Moreover, the “Ship-handling Simulator Experience” will provide an immersive opportunity for attendees to navigate a virtual boat journey through Hong Kong's waters.

Highlight of the day include “Demonstration of Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge” featuring works of award-winning students. Guided by the National Science and Technology Communication Center and organized by the China Electronics Society and China Oceanic Society, these young innovators will showcase their cutting-edge underwater unmanned systems, inviting visitors to experience operating these remarkable technologies.

The event is organized by the Marine Department and administrated by the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, in collaboration with reputed maritime organizations namely the Hong Kong Seamen’s Union, the Maritime Professional Promotion Federation, the Maritime Services Training Institute, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Small Craft Workers Union, the Institute of Hong Kong Underwater Archaeology Research, the Student Affairs Office of College of Professional and Continuing Education of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy, the Hong Kong Sea Cadet, the Hong Kong Sea School and the Hong Kong Sea Scout. Both the public and maritime community highly regard their works.

Join us at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum on 6 October 2024 for a day of fun as we celebrate this historic milestone together.

Download Images: https://bit.ly/3TDt4yX

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China: Maritime Carnival

Date: 6 October 2024 (Sunday)

Time: 10:30-19:00 

Venue: Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier No. 8

Programme Details:

Registration Required Programmes:

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1. Shipboard visit to MARINE1/ HYDRO2

Provided by: Marine Department

Visitors can board the in-service ships at close quarters, MARINE1 (a patrol vessel) and/ or HYDRO2 (a catamaran designed to carry out hydrographic surveys). Duration of each on-board visit session is about 20 minutes and will be conducted in Cantonese. For safety reason, visitors of 12 years old or below must be accompanied by an adult visitor. On-board visitors will get a souvenir from Marine Department.

Location: Central Pier 9

Registration period: 09:00 on 24 September to 23:59 on 29 September

Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email on or before 4 October.

Register here: https://forms.gle/GAFcfk3Sdmynbiw66

(effective at 09:00 on 24 September)

Should there be adverse weather warning signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, including but not limited to the Standby Signal No.1 or Red Rainstorm Signal, at 08:00 on October 6, the Maritime Carnival will be rescheduled to Oct 13 for safety reason.

2. Ship-handling Simulator Experience

The two-minute experience allows visitors to steer a boat in the simulator to experience an immersive and authentic ‘sea journey’ through Hong Kong waters. Children under 8 years old are advised to be accompanied by an adult visitor.

Location: Bridge Simulator, A Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

Registration period: 09:00 on 24 September to 23:59 on 29 September. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email on or before 4 October.

Register here: https://forms.gle/X6gcLwfVFFs5syDw8

(effective at 09:00 on 24 September)

No Registration Required Programmes:

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3. Oil and Marine Refuse Cleansing Demonstration

Provided by: Marine Department

Marine Refuse Scavenging Boat, Oil Response Vessel, Rapid Response Vessel, and command vessel will make their rounds close by in the water between HKMM and Pier 9. A narrator will introduce and describe characteristics, major functions of each vessel has on supporting daily work of the Marine Department. There will also be a demonstration on scavenging and collection of marine floating refuse. Public members can also view the demonstration through live streaming.

Location: Off Central Pier No. 8 and 9

Live streaming page: https://bit.ly/3XyaZDD (YouTube); https://bit.ly/MaritimeCarnival_cn (Bilibili)

Session 1: 11:30

Session 2: 16:00

Should there be adverse weather warning signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, including but not limited to the Standby Signal No.1 or Red Rainstorm Signal, at 08:00 on October 6, the Maritime Carnival will be rescheduled to Oct 13 for safety reason.

4. Photobooth with Friends

Capture the joyful and memorable moments of the Maritime Carnival together with family and friends

Location: Special Exhibitions and Events Gallery; Long Gallery, B Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

5. Game and Information Booths

Games and information booths about maritime information and knowledges will be provided by the Hong Kong Seamen’s Union, the Maritime Professional Promotion Federation, the Maritime Services Training Institute, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Small Craft Workers Union, the Student Affairs Office of College of Professional and Continuing Education of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong Sea Cadet, the Hong Kong Sea School and the Hong Kong Sea Scout. There will also be information showing the maritime achievement of Mainland China so that the public can celebrate the National Day and have a better understanding on our national maritime achievement at the same time.

Location: Special Exhibitions and Events Gallery, B Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

6. Marine Movie Screening and Understanding Underwater Archaeology

The screening will feature interesting marine-related cartoon and documentary to arouse children’s interest in learning more on marine science and conservation.  "Understanding Underwater Archaeology" will feature underwater archaeologists as presenters, as well as video screenings, display of professional instruments, and the opportunity to put on diving jackets.

Location: Blue Ocean Hall, A Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

7. Talks

Speakers from Marine Department will share knowledge and experience on maritime-related topics, including indication of lighthouses and buoys, vessel traffic services, and law enforcement in Hong Kong, protection of Hong Kong Seafarers and flagged Vessels by the Central People’s Government in Foreign Waters etc. 

The timetable of the talks can be accessed through below link:https://bit.ly/3ZENPON

Location: Special Exhibitions and Events Gallery, B Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

8. Demonstration of Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge

Provided by: Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy

Award-winning schools and students from the "Underwater Unmanned Systems Challenge," guided by the National Science and Technology Communication Center and organized by the China Electronics Society and China Oceanic Society, will demonstrate their designed underwater unmanned systems to the public and allow visitors to experience operating them.

Location: Open Area outside Hong Kong Maritime Museum (Central Pier No.8)

Time: 12:00-18:00

9. Seafarers’ Exploration Worksheet & Children’s Book

Worksheets and children’s book “Little Carmen’s Maritime Dream” will be provided to visitors to start a self-guided journey in the museum to learn about maritime-related knowledges. The “Little Carmen’s Maritime Dream” is an excellent parent-child reading to get a grasp on maritime industry development and basic scientific knowledge about ocean.

Location: Long Gallery, B Deck, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

10. Tattoo Sticker Experience

Visitors can create body accessories with maritime elements such as ships and Captain Shiba, the mascot of Hong Kong Maritime Museum, to celebrate the carnival.

11. Guided tours

Guided tours about maritime history, culture, and heritage.

Session 1: 11:00-12:00 Cantonese;

Session 2: 14:00-15:00 Putonghua;

Session 3: 16:00-17:00 English;

Session 4: 17:30-18:30 Cantonese

Assembly point: Next to Front Desk of Hong Kong Maritime Museum