ENG-2007 — Page 277

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation | 225

be carried out in 2008, a conservation study and a cartographic survey of the study hall were conducted.

In 2007, archaeological studies of the former Mountain Lodge and Central School were conducted to determine the condition of the demolished buildings' foundations. Necessitated by a road extension project, rescue excavation was carried out at Cheung Shue Tan, Tai Po. Artefacts from the prehistoric period and environmental samples were recovered, showing the cultural and natural changes that occurred along the eastern coast of the New Territories. Similar measures were taken at Sai Kung, Tuen Mun, Cheung Chau, and Sha Tau Kok to prevent the underground archaeological remains from being damaged during the building of village houses at those sites.

The work on transforming the former Whitfield Barracks at Kowloon Park into the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre won the Jury Commendation for Innovation at the 2007 UNESCO Heritage Awards. Some of the facilities at the centre, which opened in October 2005, include an exhibition gallery, reference library and lecture hall.

The Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery-cum-Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, which was converted from the old Ping Shan Police Station, a Grade III historic building, opened in April 2007.

Two international conferences were held in Hong Kong in 2007. They were the 'Evolution and Rehabilitation of the Asian Shophouse' jointly organised with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), UNESCO ICCROM-Asian Academy for Heritage Management and Lord Wilson Heritage Trust; and the 'Heritage Conservation and Prehistoric Archaeology of South China' jointly organised with the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Two electronic database systems are being developed to store heritage information. They are the Heritage Virtual Tour Programme, set up in July 2007, which will provide a panoramic view of 60 historic buildings and sites across Hong Kong; and the Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Architectural Information System, which will maintain a database of about 200 traditional Chinese villages and buildings in Hong Kong. Both will be launched in 2008.

Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership

In November 2007, the bureau briefed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the way Hong Kong's historic buildings will be revitalised under a plan called 'Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme'. The scheme is designed to speed up the process of turning government-owned historic buildings into unique cultural landmarks through partnership with NGOs. The scheme will start off with seven buildings. Non-profit-making charitable organisations may submit proposal for revitalising these buildings. Successful applicants will be given advice and financial support. Teams will be set up in departments, such as the Architectural Services Department and Buildings Department to provide the scheme with technical support. The scheme will be launched in early 2008.