XN000022-1983-06-24 — Page 12

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1983

LADY YOUDE OPENS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXHIBITION

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THE +CHEK LAP KOKA TANG DYNASTY WORK SITE EXHIBITION AT THE HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY LADY YOUDE THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.

LADY YOUDE, WHO IS THE PATRON OF THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, SAID AT THE OPENING CEREMONY THAT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS FROM SHAM WAN TSUEN ON CHEK LAP KOK HAD CONSIDERABLY ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF HONG KONG'S EARLY HISTORY.

+WE NOW KNOW THAT ON THIS SMALL ISLAND OFF THE NORTH COAST OF LANTAU THERE WAS A BUSY INDUSTRY DURING THE TANG DYNASTY PRODUCING LIME FROM SEA SHELLS IN VERY WELL DEVELOPED KILNS, SHE SAID.

+SIX KILNS HAVE BEEN FOUND SO FAR ON THE CHEK LAP KOK SITE AT SHAM WAN TSUEN AND NEARLY ALL THE MATERIAL ON DISPLAY IS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

+THE MANY COINS FOUND ON THE SITE PLACE THE MAJORITY ACTIVITY ABOUT 700-800 AD. SUBSEQUENT BURIAL ACTIVITY DATED TO THE END OF THE 11TH CENTURY CONFIRM THAT THE INDUSTRY CEASED IF NOT DUR ING THE TANG DYNASTY AT LEAST SOON AFTER.+

LADY YOUDE POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY HAS OVER THE LAST DECADE CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF EXCAVATIONS AND FIELD STUDIES WHICH HAVE SHED MUCH LIGHT ON THE TERRITORY'S ANCIENT PAST.

IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S MUSEUM SELECT COMMITTEE, DR PHILIP KWOK, SAID THE EXHIBITION GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHEK LAP KOK SITE.

+ IN FACT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN KEEN ON SUPPORTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES WHICH HELP TO UNVEIL THE HISTORICAL PAST OF HONG KONG.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN THE COUNCIL'S AIM TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF PRESERVING THE MANY SURVIVING RELICS AND MONUMENTS THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY, HE ADDED.

THE EXHIBITION, JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, FEATURES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TANG DYNASTY (618-907 AD) WORK SITES IN HONG KONG.

ABOUT 30 POTTERY ITEMS, SEVERAL IRON OBJECTS AND SOME 100 COINS OF TANG DYNASTY HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR EXHIBITION.

IN ADDITION, A SECTIONAL MODEL OF A LIME KILN UNEARTHED AT SHAM WAN TSUEN AND PICTURES ILLUSTRATING THE DAILY LIFE AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY OF HONG KONG'S EARLY INHABITANTS ARE ALSO PUT ON DISPLAY.

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) BETWEEN 10 AM AND 6 PM ON WEEKDAYS (EXCEPT FRIDAYS) AND BETWEEN 1 PM AND 6 PM DURING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

ADMISSION IS FREE.