Cathy Cargo was given the privilege of transporting 250 precious artefacts for the upcoming ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’ exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM). This was a joint effort organised between the museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt.

A Blooming Cultural Exchange

The Egyptian artefacts will go on display at the HKPM for nine months from 20 November 2025, furthering a cultural exchange blooming between Egypt, the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong.

The exhibition marks the largest, most exhaustive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian treasures in Hong Kong. This is the first time that Hong Kong will exhibit museum artefacts and the latest archaeological findings that have been directly loaned from Egypt.

The SCA of Egypt, the owner and lender of all the artefacts, is honoured to share these treasures with the people of Hong Kong and the world, as part of its mission to reserve, protect, and promote Egypt’s cultural heritage through international collaboration.

The process

The precious shipment was carried on a Cathy Cargo flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong using specialist equipment including two 20-foot pallets, one oversized pallet, 12 lower-deck pallets and shock-absorbing dollies. The artefacts were handled with Cathay Cargo’s highest standards and escorted by an Egyptian courier and supervised by experts in Shanghai to ensure the safe transport of every piece.

Cathay Director Cargo Dominic Perret said:

“This is a wonderful example of how Cathay Cargo helps connect cultures as well as commerce. We are honoured to support the transport of these remarkable treasures to Hong Kong. It underscores both our expertise in handling sensitive shipments through our Cathay Secure solution, and our commitment to facilitating Hong Kong’s position as a centre for international cultural exchange.”

Dominic Perret added about the transportation:

“This shipment demonstrates how our teams in the Chinese Mainland work seamlessly with airports, customs and partners to deliver delicate, high-value goods with precision and care.”

Collaboration with Shanghai Airport

The successful transport was made possible through the close collaboration of the Shanghai Airport Authority, customs, ground-handling agents, and Cathay Cargo, which opened a green channel for customs clearance. It took three days of pre-document checks. Fast-track screening and enhanced procedures that ensure an efficient operation.

This wasn’t the first time Cathay Cargo had delt with ancient artefacts as earlier this year the airline transported a number of terracotta figures and over 200 artefacts from Xi’an to Perth. It was for the ‘Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor’ exhibition in WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, Australia.

Will you be heading to ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’ exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum? Let us know in the comments!