RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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historical and archaeological interests, with a view to establishing a computerised database on historical buildings and archaeological sites.
In late 1996, two territory-wide surveys on historical buildings and archaeological sites, respectively, were commissioned with a view to compiling and updating a comprehensive, computerised inventory on historical buildings and archaeological sites. The two surveys were expected to be completed in 1998.
The AMO also launched various exciting heritage promotional programmes. To arouse students' interest in and awareness of the local heritage, a School Heritage Festival was jointly presented by the AMO and the Education Department in March with the sponsorship of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. A series of heritage-related activities such as guided tours to historical monuments, trial excavations at archaeological sites, archaeological workshops and a drawing competition on Hong Kong's historical monuments for school children, was organised. In addition, the AMO arranged two exhibitions between April and August. They were the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust Heritage Project Scheme Exhibition, presenting 20 heritage- related projects conducted by 13 local schools, and Portraits of Monuments by Young Artists, which displayed the winning entries in a drawing competition on Hong Kong's heritage monuments. In view of the encouraging response to the School Heritage Festival 1996 and the heritage-related project exhibition, the AMO and the Education Department subsequently displayed the exhibition at five popular town halls and shopping centres in various districts with further sponsorship from the trust.
Seminars and workshops on Heritage Study and Environment, Travel and Tourism, Social Studies were organised by the AMO for teachers of primary and secondary schools. The AMO also encouraged young people to participate in workshops, field studies, lectures, environment improvement exercise at historic sites and processing of archaeological finds.
The AMO also promoted the awareness of the general public in heritage preservation by staging the photo-exhibition Hong Kong Going and Gone - Views of Sheung Wan and Western District and the exhibition on Heritage of the Southern District. It also helped the Southern District Board, in publishing a booklet introducing the history, monuments and traditions of the Southern District, and the Central and Western District Board in erecting 13 commemorative plaques along the Yat-sen Trail in the Central and Western districts.
Lord Wilson Heritage Trust
The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust was established in December 1992 to give the community an opportunity to express its appreciation of Lord Wilson's contribution to Hong Kong during his term as Governor. It aims to promote and help fund the preservation and conservation of Hong Kong's cultural heritage.
During the year, the trust oversaw an exciting range of activities, including the School Heritage Festival jointly presented by the AMO and Education Department in March. Funding support was also given to publish heritage-related school projects for distribution to schools and cultural organisations.
The trust sponsored the production of the Cantonese version of a TV programme on Hong Kong's Heritage for free distribution to schools and cultural organisations.