ENG-2004 — Page 502

432 | Recreation, Sport and the Arts

interactive activities of a healthy and educational nature. Prior to the carnival, three drama outreach teams were lined up to promote arts activities in 110 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools as well as foyers of civic centres and shopping arcades to arouse community interest. The carnival presented the programmes in four major series. Apart from the innovative Fun HeARTS Linked series and the New Generation series for the youth, the 'ABC, Come and See' series was tailor-made for children aged from three to six and the Sporting Leonardo series was specially designed to celebrate the Olympic Year. Other than the well-received overseas programmes, the carnival also commissioned local artist groups to produce new interactive performances for parents and their children with a great success. Other carnival activities included a Graphic Design Competition open to all primary and secondary school students, intensive arts workshops, day camps and summer fun carnival. About 165 000 people took part in 491 events that featured 43 local groups and nine overseas groups.

New Vision Arts Festival

To encourage Hong Kong people to expand their cultural and artistic vision to the international front and promote Hong Kong as a cultural metropolis in Asia, the department presented the New Vision Arts Festival from October 19 to November 21. The programming direction was set on

set on the presentation of innovative and outstanding cross-cultural performances with contemporary Asian arts as the focus. Apart from the main stage programmes, the Festival also offered free community and extension activities ranging from outdoor performances, exhibitions, workshops and forums to performance tours to schools and master classes at universities. Some 87 cultural events, featuring 10 local groups and 13 overseas groups, were presented for some 55 000 participants.

Heritage

Antiquities Advisory Board and Antiquities and Monuments Office

The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of LCSD continued to be the executive arm of the Antiquities Authority, i.e. Secretary for Home Affairs to preserve Hong Kong's heritage and promote public awareness through various education and extension projects.

The Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) comprises 21 appointed members. It advises the Government on sites and structures that merit protection by declaring them as monuments and on other matters related to antiquities and monuments.

In 2004, the AMO continued to undertake restoration and repair works at various historic buildings, including the Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay, Cheung Ancestral Hall in Shan Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long, and Lui Seng Chun in Mong Kok.

To encourage participation from owners of private historic buildings in conservation works, the AMO provided technical advice and assistance in their maintenance and restoration projects. The AMO, for example, supervised the restoration of Liu Ying Lung Study Hall undertaken by the Liu clan of Hin Shing Tong in Sheung Shui.