Youngsters support heritage conservation through painting (with photos)

Some 560 children and youngsters participated in the Historic Buildings Drawing Competition organised by the Development Bureau’s Commissioner for Heritage's Office to express their support for heritage conservation work using their creativity and painting talent.

An award presentation ceremony, in which 26 participants received awards, was held at the Wellcome Theatre of Bethanie in Pok Fu Lam today (April 18).

Officiating at the ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, said she was encouraged by the fervent responses to the competition from students, parents and teachers.

“The Development Bureau has spared no effort in taking forward various heritage conservation and revitalisation projects in the past year. These projects have received general support and recognition from the community. Apart from the concerted efforts made by the Government and the public, sustained conservation work requires the support and participation of youngsters. The heritage conservation work can thus pass down to our next generations,” Mrs Lam said.

“The paintings fully reveal the picturesque architectural features of two declared monuments through participants’ drawing skills. I am deeply impressed by the high quality of these paintings,” she added.

The competition took place on March 21 and March 28 at Liu Man Shek Tong in Sheung Shui and at the Central Police Station Compound. Participants drew sketches of the two buildings.

Members of the judging panel included the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings and Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB), Mr Bernard Chan; member of the advisory committee, Mr Raymond Fung; member of the AAB, Mr Bernard Lim; Commissioner for Heritage, Mr Jack Chan; and pop singer, Miss Fiona Sit.  The jury selected four drawings for the winners’ awards and nine drawings for merit awards from the two competition categories, one for ages 6 to 12 and the other for ages 13 to 18.

The Commissioner for Heritage's Office has printed the winning entries on eight beautifully designed postcards.  A total of 220,000 postcards will be distributed to all secondary and primary schools throughout Hong Kong free of charge.

In addition, the Office will organise free posting of the heritage postcards in June.  Students can help promoting heritage conservation work in Hong Kong by sending the postcards to their relatives and friends overseas or on the Mainland.

The Commissioner for Heritage's Office this year attaches importance to promoting heritage conservation among youngsters, as well as encouraging them to assist in heritage conservation and revitalisation using their boundless creativity and enthusiasm.

Apart from the drawing competition, the Office is also organising tours to the Central Police Station Compound for about 4,000 secondary and primary students between April and August.  Through appreciating the buildings' architectural features and learning the history, the tours can strengthen the younger generation’s awareness of and interest in heritage conservation.

Details of the Historic Buildings Drawing Competition and tours to the Central Police Station Compound are available at the Heritage website (http://www.heritage.gov.hk/).

Ends/Saturday, April 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 13:56

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The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, presents award to the winners of the Historic Buildings Drawing Competition today (April 18). The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, chats with the award winners of the Historic Buildings Drawing Competition. The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, together with Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Mr Bernard Chan (centre), and Commissioner for Heritage, Mr Jack Chan (left), touring around the exhibition boards on the winning entries of the drawing competition.

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