TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1982
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HISTORICAL TUNG LUNG FORT OPENED
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THE TUNG LUNG FORT ON TUNG LUNG ISLAND WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR BRIAN WILSON.
THE CEREMONY MARKED THE COMPLETION OF THE PARTIAL RESTORATION OF THE FORT AND ITS OPENING TO THE PUBLIC AS A HISTORICAL SITE.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR WILSON SAID THAT THERE WAS A REFRESHING INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG AND THERE COULD BE NO BETTER WAY OF STIMULATING THAT INTEREST THAN BY RESTORING THE 300-YEAR-OLD FORT AND BY SETTING OUT ITS HISTORY FOR ALL TO READ.
MR WILSON TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE, DR SOLOMON BARD FROM WHOM CAME THE DRIVE AND INITIATIVE FOR THE RESTORATION. DR BARD HAD APPLIED HIMSELF FOR THREE YEARS WITH UNFLAGGING ENERGY TO THE PROJECT, HE SAID.
*AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE HELP THAT THE FORCES HAVE PROVIDED IN THE WAY OF TRANSPORT, STORES AND EXPERTISE, MR WILSON SAID.
HE ALSO THANKED THE VOLUNTEER WORKERS, MOSTLY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WHO SACRIFICED MANY DAYS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO WORK UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE PROJECT.
+ I HOPE THAT, WHEN THEY HAVE DRAWN BREATH AGAIN AND DISCOVERED HOW DULL LIFE CAN BE WITHOUT A FORT TO RESTORE, THEY'LL BE READY TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEXT TWO PROJECTS: FAN LAŬ FORT AND THE FORMER IMPERIAL CUSTOMS STATION ON JUNK ISLAND, + MR WILSON ADDED.
THE TUNG LUNG FORT WAS BUILT DURING THE REIGN OF CHING EMPEROR HONG HAI (1662-1722 AD) WITH THE OBJECT OF SUPPRESSING PIRATES AND CONTROLLING TRADE WITH THE WEST.
IT WAS LOCATED ON THE STRATEGIC POINT OVERLOOKING FAT TONG MUN THROUGH WHICH TRADING JUNKS ON THEIR WAY TO CANTON PASSED.
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN PROVIDING SUPPLIES TO THE GARRISON ON A REMOTE ISLAND, IT WAS VACATED IN 1810 WHEN THE GARRISON MOVED TO KOWLOON.
IN 1979, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DECIDED TO RESTORE THE FORT PARTIALLY.
+SINCE THE ORIGINAL APPEARANCE OF THE FORT CANNOT BE TRACED, A PARTIAL RESTORATION WOULD AVOID CONJECTURE AND SPECULATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE SAID.
RESTORATION WORK USING LABOUR AND VOLUNTEERS WAS CARRIED OUT IN FIVE STAGES, THE FIRST PHASE OF RESTORATION BEGAN IN JANUARY 1979 AND THE FINAL IN OCTOBER 1981.
A NOTABLE FEATURE OF THE FIFTH PHASE IS THE SYSTEMATIC EXCAVATION OF THE INTERIOR WHICH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE WHOLE INTERNAL LAYOUT IS REVEALED.
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