The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (August 29) visited Sham Shui Po District to see revitalisation work taking place in one of the earliest developed districts in Hong Kong.

     Accompanied by Sham Shui Po District Officer, Miss May Chan, Mr Tsang visited Mei Ho House in Shek Kip Mei Estate, the first resettlement estate in the territory.

     With the redevelopment of the estate, Mei Ho House is the last "H" shaped resettlement block still standing in Hong Kong. It was declared a Grade I historical building in 2005.

     To engage the public in heritage conservation, an ideas competition entitled "An Infinity Journey – Ideas Competition for Mei Ho House of Shek Kip Mei Estate" is being held to invite professional bodies and the general public to contribute creative ideas and concepts for revitialising the life of Mei Ho House and its vicinity. Supported by Sham Shui Po District Council and sponsored by the Home Affairs Bureau, the competition is co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.

     Entries will be assessed on creativity, conservation of heritage characteristics and harmonisation with the neighbourhood.

     Noting that suitable methods of conservation and creativity could rejuvenate the conserved heritage, Mr Tsang said the competition would encourage creative ideas in heritage conservation. "It can also help raise public awareness of the subject."

     Mr Tsang visited a sample flat of Mei Ho House to better understand the life of residents in olden days. He was told that the Housing Department had continuously maintained structural safety and environmental hygiene of the building to prepare for its future use.  
 
     The Chief Executive also visited So Uk Estate, a 40-year-old estate in the district which is about to be cleared. The first phase of the clearance will begin by the end of next year while the second will start in August, 2011.

     Mr Tsang visited two elderly brothers living in the estate and was told that an on-site rehousing team and a community service team of social workers had been set up to help address tenants' concerns about the clearance process.

     So Uk Estate is a "green" estate with some 740 trees, half of them at least 40 years old, and Mr Tsang was pleased to learn that most would be preserved.
 
     "The Government will strive to protect trees in Hong Kong, particularly the valuable and rare old trees," Mr Tsang said.

     Before ending his visit, the Chief Executive visited a care attention home for the elderly in Shek Kip Mei with a unit catering for elderly with senile dementia. Mr Tsang was impressed by their professional services, including special therapeutic activities designed to maintain residents' self-care skills as well as slow down mental deterioration.

Ends/Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:07

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