XN000022-1972-10-07 — Page 3

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Saturday, October 7, 1972

CONVERSION AND EXPANSION PLANS FOR LET CHENG UK TOMB MUSEUM

The Lei Cheng Uk Tomb Museum will be converted into a modern

museum with a dual function of displaying the tomb finds to the best

advantage and of holding small-scale exhibitions.

The existing caretaker's quarters will also be turned into an

additional display gallery.

To be renamed the Lei Cheng Uk Branch of the Hong Kong City

Museum and Art Gallery, the museum will provide facilities for regular

small-scale exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and photographs.

Work will involve the repainting in more suitable colours of

the museum's external and internal walls. The entrances and exits will

be improved.

The existing display cases will be replaced with types similar

to those used in the City Museum. In the display areas, suitable lighting

and air-conditioning will be installed.

Conversion and expansion plans are now in hand and the project

is expected to be completed by next summer.

A Government spokesman said that since the Lei Cheng Uk Tomb Museum

was opened in 1957, the attendance figureș had declined.

He explained this was possibly due to the static display of the

tomb finds which offered little variety of interest.

In view of this, the spokesman said, the Museum and Art Gallery

Select Committee of the Urban Council has recommended the improvement and

expansion of the display facilities in the museum in order to revive public

interest and to make the maximum use of the available space.