ENG-2010 — Page 286

236 Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Antiquities and Monuments Office

The AMO continued with its task of preserving Hong Kong's built heritage and promoting public awareness of heritage conservation by means of various educational and promotional projects in 2010. The AMO provides secretariat support to the AAB, which advises the Government on sites and structures that merit protection as monuments and on matters relating to antiquities and monuments.

In 2010, restoration and repair works on a number of historic buildings were carried out, including Kun Lung Wai and Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall in Lung Yeuk Tau, Man Mo Temple in Tai Po, Morrison Building in Tuen Mun, Maryknoll Convent School and St John's Cathedral. Restoration of the Tang Ancestral Hall in Ha Tsuen was in progress and will be completed in 2011.

Following the archaeological investigations in Kai Tak Area to ascertain the extent of the Lung Tsun Stone Bridge's remnants, a conservation management plan was formulated to guide the preservation of the remnants. Archaeological investigations were also carried out in Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sai Kung and Lantau Island to prevent underground archaeological deposits from damage during the building of village houses at those sites.

The AMO organised a wide variety of educational and publicity programmes such as displays, lectures, guided tours and workshops to promote heritage conservation. Starting from December 2010, a long-term exhibition is staged at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre to enhance public awareness of our rich archaeological and built heritage.

Greening, Landscape and Tree Management

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Task Force on Tree Management led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Development Bureau co-ordinates government efforts on greening, landscape and tree management through a holistic approach, and ensures better integration of the upstream process of landscape planning and design with tree care in the downstream. The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management (GLTM) Section was established under the Works Branch of Development Bureau in March 2010 to champion a new, strategic policy on greening, landscape and tree management, with a view to achieving the sustainable development of a greener environment for Hong Kong.

The GLTM Section is underpinned by the Greening and Landscape Office (GLO) and the Tree Management Office (TMO). The GLO is responsible for central co-ordination of policy matters and departmental efforts on greening and landscape planning and design, while the TMO advocates a quality-led approach to tree management among tree management departments and in the community at large.

The GLTM Section seeks to raise the level of professionalism among practitioners. and build up the capacity of the industry by formulating standards and guidelines on relevant issues (such as adequate space allocation for new planting, proper selection of planting species, pruning, vegetation maintenance, etc.), commissioning research, promoting knowledge-sharing both locally and with overseas counterparts,