XN000022-1980-07-25 — Page 20

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FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1980

+BUT DESPITE THESE HEAVY COMMITMENTS, CLUB MEMBERS STILL FIND TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES AND HAVE BEEN CONCERNED IN RUNNING COURSES IN LIFE SAVING, SWIMMING INSTRUCTION, SPRING BOARD DIVING, SNORKELLING AND SUB-AQUA DIVING, ALL OF WHICH MAKE A VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO PREVENTING LOSSES AT SEA,+ HE SAID.

IN FACT, HE ADDED, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1956 WELL OVER 11 000 PEOPLE OWED THEIR LIVES EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB.

MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THAT HE WAS PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO SEE 10 FISHERMEN AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AMONG THE RECIPIENTS OF THE RESCUE STAR. OTHER RECIPIENTS WERE FOUR POLICEMEN, 10 URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT LABOURERS AND 11 MEMBERS OF THE LIFE GUARD CLUB.

RUINS OF TUNG LUNG FORT NOW A PROTECTED MONUMENT

****

IN THE GAZETTEER OF THE SAN ON DISTRICT, REVISED EDITION OF 1819, IT WAS STATED THAT ON THE HILL OF NAN FAT TONG, ON AN ISLAND A FORT WAS BUILT DURING THE PERIOD OF KANG HSI TO PROTECT THE AREA AGAINST PIRATES. IN 1810 IT WAS DECIDED TO RESITE THE FORT ON THE SEASHORE OF KOWLOON+.

SINCE THEN, THE WALLS OF THE 350-YEAR-OLD FORT HAVE GRADUALLY FALLEN TO RUIN AND BECOME ALMOST COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY THICK VEGETATION.

THIS ALMOST FORGOTTEN RELIC OF LOCAL HISTORY IS NOW BEING BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE AS PART OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY OF RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF HONG KONG'S ANTIQUITIES.

THE FORT WAS DESIGNATED AS A MONUMENT IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY) GAZETTE.

SINCE JANUARY 1979, STAFF OF THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS SECTION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO REPAIR AND REBUILD THE OLD FORT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

THE VEGETATION HAS BEEN CUT, THE LOOSE PARTS OF WALLS

DISMANTLED, AND THE RUBBLE CLEARED.

EXCAVATION INSIDE THE FORT REVEALED FEATURES WHICH WERE TOTALLY HIDDEN UNDER TONS OF EARTH AND RUBBLE. AN IMPRESSIVE ENTRANCE WITH STEPS LEADING UP INTO THE FORT HAS BEEN UNCOVERED, TOGETHER WITH THE REMAINS OF THE BRICK ARCH THAT USED TO SPAN IT.

IN THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF THE FORT STEPS HAVE BEEN CLEARED LEADING UP TO THE WALLS. BRICK FOUNDATIONS OF INTERIOR STRUCTURES, NO LONGER STANDING, CAN BE SEEN IN SEVERAL PLACES AFTER EXCAVATION.

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