SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1984
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150-YEAR-OLD STUDY LIBRARY RE-OPENED
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A 150-YEAR-OLD STUDY LIBRARY IN YUEN LONG, WHICH UNDERWENT RENOVATION RECENTLY, WAS RE-OPENED BY LADY YOUDE THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.
THIS WAS THE SECOND RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE YAU SIN LIBRARY IN HA TSUEN. THE RENOVATION WAS CARRIED OUT 70 YEARS AGO.
THE RENOVATION COST OF $1.8 MILLION WAS PAID BY THE TANG CLAN.
MOST OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS USED FOR THE LIBRARY WERE SHIPPED TO HONG KONG FROM CHINA AND THE BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED STONE PILLARS AND ORIGINAL WOODEN PANELS WERE HAND-MADE BY CRAFTSMEN FROM CHINA.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THE HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC BUILDING WAS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED STUDY HALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+ IT IS A TIMELY REMINDER TO US, WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. THAT THE PAST SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN NOR THE TRADITIONS WHICH IT HAS HANDED DOWN TO US AND THE LESSONS WHICH IT CAN TEACH US, HE SAID.
+FOR THESE ARE THE BRICKS AND MORTAR WITH WHICH TO BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE.+
MR AKERS-JONES SAID WHILE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL WOOD CARVINGS IN THE RE-CONSTRUCTION, MOST OF THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE AND THE STYLE OF THE BUILDING HAVE BEEN PRESERVED IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM SO THAT THE STRUCTURAL FORM AND ARTISTIC STYLE OF A CENTURY AGO COULD STILL BE APPRECIATED.
+FILIAL PIETY AND UNITY ARE CHINESE VIRTUES; AND IT IS IN KEEPING WITH THESE TO LOVE ONE'S BROTHER AND FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ONE'S FATHER, HE SAID.
+DEMONSTRATING THESE VIRTUES, THE TANG CLAN HAS INVESTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND EFFORT IN BRINGING THE GLORY BACK TO THIS HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC BUILDING. THEY SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT,+ HE SAID.
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