Photo exhibition pays homage to HK heritage (with photos)

The photos showing the old days in Central & Western and Wan Chai districts not only help us appreciate the beauty of our historic buildings and places but also remind us of the importance of heritage conservation for a city, the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, said today (September 11).

Mrs Lam was officiating at the opening of "Faces and Places: Heritage Photo Exhibition" held at the former Central Police Station on Hollywood Road. The exhibition features more than 160 photos of architecture, activities and common scenes taken in the mid-1970s in Wan Chai, Central and Western districts.

Mrs Lam said that public education and involvement forms a key component of Government's heritage conservation work. Spearheaded by the Commissioner for Heritage's Office, Development Bureau has implemented a series of new initiatives in the past two years to involve the community in heritage conservation in Hong Kong. These included a dedicated heritage website and newsletters; the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme; photo and drawing competitions; and the organisation of guided tours to heritage buildings or places. 
 
"These activities are all very well received, particularly by the younger generation. We will enhance these efforts by bringing such work into schools," Mrs Lam said.

Also officiating at the event was Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Mr Bernard Chan. Mr Chan also chairs the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings under which six projects under Batch I are at various stages of implementation while another five are under invitation for proposals.

Mrs Lam thanked the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) for providing the valuable photos and their long standing commitments in promoting local culture and heritage.

Jointly organised by the Commissioner for Heritage's Office and the Royal Asiatic Society (Hong Kong branch), the "Faces and Places: Heritage Photo Exhibition" will be staged at the Central Police Station Compound from September 12 to October 14 between 10am and 7pm.

It will then be staged in the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre between October 17 and November 11. The opening hours are 10am to 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays (except Thursdays) and 10am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays. It will be closed on Thursdays.

The exhibition will also feature five thematic talks to be held at the Headquarters Block, Central Police Station Compound to enhance people's understanding of the history of old Hong Kong:

* September 12 - "Early Development of Sheung Wan and the Establishment of Tung Wah Hospital" by Dr Joseph Ting
* September 19 - "Sheung Wan and the Western District before the Second World War through Historical Images" by Mr Ko Tim-keung
* September 26 - "Historical Development of the Central District" by Dr Patrick Hase
* October 3 - "The Beginning and Development of the Hollywood Road Antique Market" by Dr Lau Chi-pang
* October 10 - "Understanding Western Historical Architecture in Hong Kong from the Central Police Station Compound" by Mr Raymond Fung

Admission to the exhibition and thematic talks is free. For more details, visit http://www.heritage.gov.hk/ or call 2848 6230.

Ends/Friday, September 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:08

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The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, speaks at the opening ceremony of the "Faces and Places: Heritage Photo Exhibition" at the former Central Police Station Compound on Hollywood Road today (September 11). (From left) Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings, Mr Bernard Chan; the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam; and President of Royal Asiatic Society (Hong Kong Branch), Mr Robert Nield, officiate at the "Faces and Places: Heritage Photo Exhibition" at the former Central Police Station Compound on Hollywood Road today (September 11). The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, tours the "Faces and Places: Heritage Photo Exhibition" at the former Central Police Station Compound on Hollywood Road today (September 11).

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