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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1980
THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL HAS ALSO KINDLY AGREED TO THE INSTALLATION OF A PLAQUE ON THE OUTSIDE OF ITS HEAD OFFICE, TO MARK THE SITE OF THE FIRST PLOT OF LAND SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION IN 1843 AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HONG KONG AS A COLONY.
THE REPORT POINTED OUT THAT MORE PLAQUES WILL BE ERECTED IN DUE COURSE AND THE BOARD WELCOMES SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THE POSSIBLE SITING OF SUCH PLAQUES.
DURING THE YEAR, THE BOARD WAS CONSULTED ON THE RESITING OF A CEREMONIAL ARCH MARKING THE FORMER SMALLPOX HOSPITAL OPERATED BY THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL IN KENNEDY TOWN AND THE ARCH IS NOW PERMANENTLY SITED WITH A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE IN A SMALL URBAN COUNCIL REST GARDEN IN THE SAME AREA.
ALSO, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS SECTION, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS AGREED TO PRESERVE A NUMBER OF HISTORICALLY INTERESTING POSTAL BOXES WITH THE DESIGNATIONS 'V.R.' OR 'G.R.'. A KING EDWARD VII POSTBOX IS IN THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY.
THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY TOO HAS AGREED TO DONATE A NUMBER OF OLD STREET LAMPS TO THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY WHICH DATED BACK FROM NEAR THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND ARE OF CONSIDERABLE HISTORICAL INTEREST.
THE FOUR GAS LAMPS BY THE SIDES OF THE DUDDELL STREET STEPS WERE DONATED DURING THE YEAR TO THE GOVERNMENT BY THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY WHICH ALSO GENEROUSLY TRAINED CERTAIN USD STAFF IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LAMPS. THESE ARE THE LAST WORKING GAS LAMPS IN THE TERRITORY.
IN CONCLUSION, THE REPORT SAID THAT PRESERVATION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO MAKE THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE AND ENJOY, AND TO ACCOMPANY IT WITH EXPLANATORY TEXTS TO INDICATE THE BACKGROUND, THE PURPOSE OF THE MATERIAL AND HOW IT RELATES TO MODERN HONG KONG.
THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD IS A STATUTORY BODY SET UP UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE CHAIRED BY MR BRIAN WILSON, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES,
THE 1979 ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD REPORT AT $13 A COPY IS AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GPO BUILDING IN CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
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