(Translation)
- Ronnie:
- Mina, do you have time to join me to take some photos at the HKMA Information Centre on the 55th floor as a memento?
- Mina:
- Why? We always go to the Information Centre.
- Ronnie:
- There will be renovation works for the Information Centre starting from 1 December. The library and part of the exhibition area will be closed to public access temporarily. Part of the scenic view from the Centre will also be affected. So, I would like to go there and take some photos with you before the renovation.
- Mina:
- Sure. But why is there a need to refurbish the Information Centre?
- Ronnie:
- Let me ask you first. Do you know how long the Information Centre has been in operation?
- Mina:
- Let me see…Oh, you’ve got me there.
- Ronnie:
- The Information Centre was launched almost 13 years ago in December 2003. It is time to get a makeover and enrich the content of its exhibitions. I know that some interactive devices will be added so that visitors can have a more engaging experience and learn more about HKMA’s work.
- Mina:
- I know that the Information Centre aims to promote public education and receives a lot of students every year.
- Ronnie:
- Actually, the Information Centre is not only popular among the students. Visitors of the Centre come from all walks of life, including state leaders, government officials and central bank representatives from different parts of the world, senior citizens, students and people with disabilities. Over 570,000 people have visited the Centre since it was launched!
- Mina:
- I know that some travel sites such as TripAdvisor also recommend the Information Centre as one of the “must-go” places in Hong Kong. It is not only because of its prime location on the 55th floor of the Two IFC which offers spectacular scenic views, but also because of the rich content of the exhibitions in the Centre. For example, some visitors commended that the exhibition related to Hong Kong’s Currency is very informative and interesting.
- Ronnie:
- Many visitors will also take the opportunity to ask our staff at the Centre about other scenic spots in Hong Kong and even take pictures with our colleagues.
- Mina:
- I know that the Centre once received a very special guest – one of the architects responsible for the design of the Two IFC. He came with about a dozen family members to visit his “work” in Hong Kong.
- Ronnie:
- The Centre has also encountered quite a lot of funny incidents. There was once a senior citizen who came to visit the Centre in a tour group. When our colleague was introducing the first five-dollar banknote in Hong Kong, he took out his own treasured contemporaneous five-dollar note (nicknamed “large cotton quilts”) and everyone burst into laughter. No one had ever thought that he would come prepared!
- Mina:
- I have also heard that one day when the weather was bad, a visitor asked our colleagues to open the curtains at the Centre. The visitor thought that our colleagues had closed the curtains so they could not see the scenic views outside. But the truth is – it was so foggy that the visibility was brought down to almost nothing!
- Ronnie:
- The souvenirs available at the Centre are also very popular, especially those made with shredded banknotes. Sometimes they are even out of stock.
- Mina:
- I very much look forward to seeing the new look of the Information Centre. Ronnie, do you know when the Centre will reopen?
- Ronnie:
- It is expected to be around early 2017. But do note that the Centre will only be partially closed. During the renovation period, the exhibitions related to Hong Kong’s Currency and Historical Timeline will remain open to the public. If you want to know more about the Information Centre, please call 2878-1111 or send an email to info_centre@hkma.gov.hk.
24 November 2016
Written by Ronnie and Mina, the two specially-assigned ‘Observers’ who go around the HKMA office in IFC, Central, collecting interesting facts and sharing them with you from time to time.