XN000022-1991-07-04 — Page 32

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1991

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THE NAME "FAN LAU" WHICH LITERALLY MEANS "DIVISION OF FLOWS DESCRIBES THE CHANGE OF COLOUR OF THE WATERS OFF 'THE POINT FROM A CLEAR GREEN TO MUDDY BROWN AS THE PACIFIC CURRENTS MEET THE PEARL RIVER WATER.

THE FORT IS BELIEVED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF YONG ZHENG (1729) AND WAS A MAJOR COASTAL FORTIFICATION AT THE PEARL RIVER ESTUARY. VESSELS GOING TO CANTON VIA THE PEARL RIVER WOULD USE THE FORT AS A LANDMARK.

THE FORT WAS UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE RIGHT WING OF DA PENG BATTALION. DURING THE REIGN OF JIA QING (1796-1821), THE FORT WAS GUARDED BY 48 SOLDIERS UNDER ONE LIEUTENANT, HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF SOLDIERS WAS LATER REDUCED TO 30.

RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE, MEASURING 21 FORT APPEARS TO BE BUILT ON A STONE BASE. WITH SEMI-DRESSED STONES AND GREY BRICKS.

IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE FORT WAS

METRES BY 46 ITS

METRES, THE

WALLS ARE

CONSTRUCTED

ONCE OCCUPIED BY PIRATES. WITH THE SURRENDER OF ALL MAJOR GANGS OF PIRATES ΤΟ THE QING GOVERNMENT BY 1810, THE FORT SHOULD BE TAKEN OVER BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS AGAIN. HOWEVER, IT WAS EVENTUALLY ABANDONED AFTER THE LEASE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TO BRITAIN IN 1898.

IN VIEW OF ITS GREAT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, THE FORT WAS DECLARED A MONUMENT IN 1981 AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD.

INITIAL RESTORATION HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT IN 1985. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A LARGE-SCALE REPAIR PROJECT IN LATE LAST YEAR, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE FORT.

THE RESTORATION PROGRAMME WAS SUPERVISED BY THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENT OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH AND THE ANTIQUITIES SECTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

0

SIX DISTRICTS TO START SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME

* *

SIX DISTRICTS WILL START THEIR 1991 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME THIS WEEKEND (JULY 6 AND 7) WITH CARNIVALS AND VARIETY SHOWS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT OVER 1,700 ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD IN THE EASTERN, SHAM SHUI PO, KWUN TONG, TSUEN WAN, MONG KOK AND WAN CHAI DISTRICTS FROM THIS WEEKEND THROUGH AUGUST.

COMMUNITY",

THE SYP

BUT

WITH THE THEME "SHARE THE FUN, SERVE THE WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE YOUNGSTERS, AGED SIX TO 25, WITH RECREATION ALSO WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES.

/THESE INCLUDE