FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1986
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TEMPLE EXPECTED TO ATTRACT VISITORS
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THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT WITH THE COMPLETION OF RENOVATIONS AT LIN FA KUNG, THE AREA WOULD BECOME A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN EASTERN DISTRICT.
OFFICIATING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE REOPENING OF LIN FA KUNG, MR WIGGHAM SAID THAT THE TEMPLE WAS THE ONLY KUAN YIN' TEMPLE IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT, AND WAS BUILT IN 1863, DURING THE CHING DYNASTY.
+BECAUSE OF THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE TEMPLE, THE GOVERNMENT CLASSIFIED IT AS A GRADE I BUILDING, WHICH MEANT THAT ANY ALTERNATIONS TO THE TEMPLE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
+WHEN THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TEMPLE IN 1975, MOST OF THE PREMISES WERE IN DILAPIDATED STATE.
+IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THIS HISTORICAL TEMPLE, IN 1984 THE. COMMITTEE DECIDED TO ALLOCATE $1.2 MILLION TO FULLY RENOVATE THE TEMPLE.
+RENOVATION WORKS INCLUDED REFURBISHING THE EXTERNAL WALL AND INTERIOR PARTS OF THE TEMPLE, RECONSTRUCTING THE LILY POND AND THE STREAM BEHIND THE TEMPLE, AND BUILDING THE MOON GATE AND CARETAKER'S QUARTER, + MR WIGGHAM SAID.
+TO ADD TO ITS BEAUTY, AND TO PROVIDE MORE RECREATION AND AMENITIES FACILITIES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE URBAN COUNCIL ALSO PLANS TO BUILD A CHINESE GARDEN BEHIND THE TEMPLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
+ THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO RECONSTRUCT AND WIDEN THE STREETS IN THE VICINITY TO FACILITATE MORE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS TO VISIT THE AREA,+ HE SAID.
THE SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS WAS THE RESULT OF CAREFUL AND TIME-CONSUMING PLANNING AND EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL PUBLIC INCLUDING THE DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND KAIFONGS, WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THE CONCERTED COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THE EASTERN RESIDENTS.
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