SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987-
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MAN CLAN ANCESTRAL HALL BEING RESTORED
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WORK ON THE RESTORATION OF THE MAN LUN FUNG ANCESTRAL HALL IN SAN TIN, YUEN LONG, HAS STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE ANCESTRAL HALL IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER 200 YEARS AGO IN HONOUR OF MAN LUN FUNG, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE CLAN, AND IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, INTENDED FOR WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS, FESTIVALS, CEREMONIES AND MEETINGS OF THE VILLAGE ELDERS.
THE BUILDING WAS GAZETTED AS A MONUMENT, AND STRUCTURALLY
RENOVATED WITH GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IN 1983.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD, MR JASON YUEN, NOTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME A CHINESE TRADITIONAL FAMILY HAD ALLOWED THEIR PREMISES TO BE PRESERVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT WAS HOPED THAT MORE TRADITIONAL FAMILIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD FOLLOW SUIT, MR YUEN ADDED.
THE RESTORATION PROJECT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A DONATION
OF AROUND $700 000 FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
WITH THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AS EXPERT ADVISERS, THE RESTORATION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS TUESDAY
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THE SEVENTH YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) EVENING WITH A FREE PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA AT LUT SAU HALL.
PRIOR TO THE CONCERT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, WILL OFFICIATE AT A FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY.
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IN THE FOLLOWING THREE WEEKS, ABOUT 40 PROGRAMMES COVERING OPERAS, DRAMA, FILMS, EXHIBITIONS AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES WILL BE STAGED AT VARIOUS VENUES IN THE DISTRICT.
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