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Hong Kong's Heritage Fiesta is set to return when the Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau and the Antiquities and Monuments Office jointly host the event again in December.
Heritage Fiesta 2012 provides a unique opportunity for the public to discover more about the city's built heritage. This year's event will also see the addition of a special "stamp collection" offer allowing participants to obtain free Heritage Fiesta souvenirs during the event period and a chance to win a selected heritage-themed stamp product sponsored by the Hongkong Post as a post-event activity.
"Heritage Fiesta 2011 received tremendous support from the public last year. This year we will continue to promote selected revitalised and historic buildings in Hong Kong by recommending three newly-designed heritage routes to the public. The Heritage Fiesta is a great opportunity for the public to enjoy and appreciate the history of Hong Kong," a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.
The three specially-designed heritage routes to be featured in Heritage Fiesta 2012 from December 1 to 31 are "Kowloon: Revitalised Community", "Tai O: New Scene of Fishing Village" and "Central & Sheung Wan: Melting Pot of East and West". A combination of historic buildings will be showcased including some from Batch I of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (the Scheme), others chosen for revitalisation and some run by other organisations.
Details of the three heritage routes are as follows:
i. The Kowloon route will focus on SCAD Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine - Lui Seng Chun, Jao Tsung-I Academy and the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre.
ii. The Tai O route will introduce the Tai O Heritage Hotel and other historic buildings such as Hau Wong temple and Kwan Tai Temple in the district of Tai O.
iii. The Central & Sheung Wan route will feature historical sites on Hollywood Road with Bridge's Street Market, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, the Man Mo Temple and Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences as highlights.
During Heritage Fiesta 2012 a limited stock of exclusive key chains featuring eight heritage highlights will be distributed at their respective locations on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are also invited to collect special stamps marking sites on the heritage routes. By collecting a full set of eight stamps on the event pamphlet and sharing creative ideas on promoting Heritage Fiesta in less than 50 words, visitors can join a competition and get the chance to win a selected heritage-themed stamp product sponsored by Hongkong Post. The completed entries should be sent back to the Commissioner for Heritage's Office by January 31, 2013. The winners will be chosen by an assessment panel with representatives from the Commissioner for Heritage's Office, Hongkong Post and Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine - Lui Seng Chun.
The commemorative stamp issue "Revitalization of Historic Buildings in Hong Kong" will be released by Hongkong Post in May 2013. The stamp issue presents the six buildings in Batch I of the Scheme: YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel, Tourism and Chinese Cultural Centre cum Ma Wan Residents Museum, Jao Tsung-I Academy, Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine - Lui Seng Chun, Tai O Heritage Hotel and SCAD Hong Kong. 100 selected stamp products will be available as prizes for the competition.
While most historic buildings welcome walk-in visitors, some require pre-registration or admission tickets. Guided tours will also be arranged for selected locations and dates.
For further details of Heritage Fiesta 2012, please visit the Development Bureau's heritage conservation website (www.heritage.gov.hk), call 2848 6230 or fax to 2189 7264.
Ends/Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:27
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