XN000022-1990-02-10 — Page 6

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1990

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TAI FU TAI RESTORATION RECOGNISED BY HKIA

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THE ΤΑΙ FU TAI RESTORATION PROJECT, WHICH WON THE 1989 PRESIDENT'S PRIZE OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (HKIA) ANNUAL AWARDS, HAS ATTRACTED ABOUT 40,000 VISITORS SINCE ITS OPENING IN NOVEMBER 1988, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY

BOARD, MR EDWARD HO, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

TAT

SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE HKIA AWARD AT FU TAI, MR HO SAID THE HISTORICAL BUILDING WAS AN ATTRACTION NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS A LIVING PART OF THE HISTORY OF YUEN LONG, IN PARTICULAR OF THE SAN AREA.

TIN

THE RESTORATION OF TAI FU ΤΑΙ WAS AWARDED THE HKIA'S 1989 PRESIDENT'S PRIZE FOR ITS EXCELLENCE OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE. THE AWARD IS ALSO AIMED AT GIVING RECOGNITION ΤΟ OUTSTANDING BUILDINGS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE.

MR HO THANKED THE PUBLIC-SPIRITED MANAGERS OF THE MAN WAH CHEUNG TONG, WHO TOOK CARE OF THEIR ANCESTRAL PROPERTIES, FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THE RESTORATION PROJECT.

"IT IS ONLY WITH THEIR SUPPORT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ADMIRE THIS PIECE OF UNIQUELY ELEGANT TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE," HE ADDED.

MR HO POINTED OUT THAT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING ANCIENT MONUMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON PRIVATE LAND, WAS NO EASY TASK.

"BESIDES HAVING TO OBTAIN THE CONSENT OF OWNERS, THE COSTS OF RESTORATION ARE ALSO CONSIDERABLE.

"ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE, IT IS ALWAYS NECESSARY TO RESORT TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR FINANCIAL SUBSIDY," HE SAID.

MR HO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE UNTIRING SUPPORT FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB WHICH, IN THIS CASE, HAS DONATED $2.5 MILLION ΤΟ RENDER THE TAI FU TAI RESTORATION PROJECT POSSIBLE.

AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI, PRESENTED THE PRESIDENT'S PRIZE ΤΟ REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE, MAN WAH CHEUNG TONG. AND THE JOCKEY CLUB.

THE

ALSO ATTENDING TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE MEMBERS OF ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH, AND THE JOCKEY CLUB.

PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY, MEMBERS OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD TOURED KUN TING STUDY HALL. ANOTHER DECLARED MONUMENT IN YUEN LONG WHERE RESTORATION WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT WITH A DONATION OF $2 MILLION FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB.

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