Page 71 of 174
104
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Art. Today I wish to say a few words on the work of the Museum of History.
Detailed planning for the new Museum of History in the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex is now in progress and active preparations have begun to ensure that staff, collections, exhibitions and ancillary facilities are ready by the scheduled completion date in 1982 and to provide steadily improving services in the interim period.
Existing proposals call for public display areas in excess of 33,000 square feet. Approximately fifteen exhibition galleries are planned and these will house both standing and temporary thematic displays dealing with the history of Man in Hong Kong and the region from earliest times to the more recent past. Ethnographic sections will illustrate and preserve aspects of the traditional way of life of the people of Hong Kong and their relationship with their environment.
Apart from the development of the new museum in the Cultural Complex, the Museum of History will also become involved in the course of the next few years in setting up and presenting to the public two new specialized museums. The first of these will be the Hakka House at Chai Wan which will be restored, refurnished in traditional style and preserved as a historic building and folk museum.
The second, if existing proposals are fulfilled, will be Flagstaff House in Victoria Barracks. Again it is proposed to restore and strengthen the structure and open it to the public as a historic building and specialized historical museum.
It is possible that other historic buildings and sites may similarly come under the administration of the Museum of History in the coming years.
Currently the Museum of History is making a concerted effort to expand its local history and ethnographic collections. As part of this programme five scale models of 19th Century merchant vessels are under construction. These will illustrate important stages in the development of the naval architecture of the last century, with special reference to ships selected to comprise this collection being those with a known history of association with Hong Kong and its commerce.
Also under construction are four models of typical examples of traditional Chinese rural architecture. These models, which are being made by students in the Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, are based on detailed drawings and other studies resulting from recent surveys conducted by the students.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
105
Another important recent acquisition is a large and representative collection of traditional Chinese musical instruments purchased through two Hong Kong companies, one of which is among the very few remaining to specialize in this work.
In April and May of this year, Museum staff in association with members of the Antiquities and Monuments Section of the Urban Services Department carried out archaeological excavations near the village of Sha Tsui in the High Island Reservoir. These field studies not only brought to light hitherto unrecorded archaeological materials, but also threw new light on Hong Kong's early history.
As and when the archaeological collections at present being studied by the Hong Kong Archaeological Society are transferred to the Museum's custody, a new reference collection of Hong Kong archaeological materials will be established at Star House. These reference collections will be added to from time to time as site collections, excavated under licence, are placed under the Museum's care by the relevant Authority for the preservation of Antiquities and Monuments. It is proposed that access to these archaeological reference collections will be made available to all bona fide students of Hong Kong archaeology.
STATEMENT BY MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. CHOW (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to report to you and members of the Council that after careful consideration, the Food Hygiene Select Committee has decided to lift the suspension on the sale of a certain consignment of Lactogen milk powder which has been suspected to be contaminated. Soon after receiving test reports on 1,400 tins of "problem milk powder" which certify that there was no sign of salmonella, the Select Committee called a meeting to discuss the appropriate measures to be taken as we have to primarily safeguard public health and at the same time take into consideration the difficulties which confront the dealers. On the one hand, we have to consider whether the quantity of milk powder which we sent for tests is sufficient; on the other, we have to discuss if further action should be taken and whether such action is excessive. In the end, all expressed satisfaction with the result of the tests and unanimously agreed that there is no need to contemplate further action and that the suspension which was imposed some time ago should be lifted.
Page 71 of 174
Page 71 of 174
104
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Art. Today I wish to say a few words on the work of the Museum of History.
Detailed planning for the new Museum of History in the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex is now in progress and active preparations have begun to ensure that staff, collections, exhibitions and ancilliary facilities are ready by the scheduled completion date in 1982 and to provide steadily improving services in the interim period.
Existing proposals call for public display areas in excess of 33,000 square feet. Approximately fifteen exhibition galleries are planned and these will house both standing and temporary thematic displays dealing with the history of Man in Hong Kong and the region from earliest times to the more recent past. Ethnographic sections will illustrate and preserve aspects of the traditional way of life of the people of Hong Kong and their relationship with their environment.
Apart from the development of the new museum in the Cultural Complex, the Museum of History will also become involved in the course of the next few years in setting up and presenting to the public two new specialized museums. The first of these will be the Hakka House at Chai Wan which will be restored, refurnished in traditional style and preserved as a historic building and folk museum.
The second, if existing proposals are fulfilled, will be Flagstaff House in Victoria Barracks. Again it is proposed to restore and strengthen the structure and open it to the public as a historic building and specialized historical museum.
It is possible that other historic buildings and sites may similarly come under the administration of the Museum of History in the coming
years.
Currently the Museum of History is making a concerted effort to expand its local history and ethnographic collections. As part of this programme five scale models of 19th Century merchant vessels are under construction. These will illustrate important stages in the development of the naval architecture of the last century, with special reference to ships selected to comprise this collection being those with a known history of association with Hong Kong and its commerce.
Also under construction are four models of typical examples of traditional Chinese rural architecture. These models, which are being made by students in the Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, are based on detailed drawings and other studies resulting from recent surveys conducted by the students.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
105
Another important recent acquisition is a large and representative collection of traditional Chinese musical instruments purchased through two Hong Kong companies, one of which is among the very few remain- ing to specialize in this work.
In April and May of this year, Museum staff in association with members of the Antiquities and Monuments Section of the Urban Services Department carried out archaeological excavations near the village of Sha Tsui in the High Island Reservoir. These field studies not only brought to light hitherto unrecorded archaeological materials, but also threw new light on Hong Kong's early history.
As and when the archaeological collections at present being studied by the Hong Kong Archaeological Society are transferred to the Museum's custody, a new reference collection of Hong Kong archaeo- logical materials will be established at Star House. These reference collections will be added to from time to time as site collections, excavated under licence, are placed under the Museum's care by the relevant Authority for the preservation of Antiquities and Monu- ments. It is proposed that access to these archaeological reference collections will be made available to all bona fide students of Hong Kong archaeology.
STATEMENT BY MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. CHOW (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to report to you and members of the Council that after careful consideration, the Food Hygiene Select Committee has decided to lift the suspension on the sale of a certain consignment of Lactogen milk powder which has been suspected to be contaminated. Soon after receiving test reports on 1,400 tins of "problem milk powder" which certify that there was no sign of salmonella, the Select Committee called a meeting to discuss the appropriate measures to be taken as we have to primarily safeguard public health and at the same time take into consideration the difficulties which confront the dealers. On the one hand, we have to consider whether the quantity of milk powder which we sent for tests is sufficient; on the other, we have to discuss if further action should be taken and whether such action is excessive. In the end, all expressed satisfaction with the result of the tests and unanimously agreed that there is no need to contemplate further action and that the suspension which was imposed some time ago should be lifted.
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