The Chief Executive-elect, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the fifth anniversary ceremony of the Tai O Heritage Hotel on Lantau today (May 5) and visited residents and shop owners to learn more about the latest developments of Tai O.

     Speaking at the fifth anniversary ceremony at the Tai O Heritage Hotel, Mrs Lam said the hotel is the best example of the successful revitalisation of historic buildings in Hong Kong. The hotel is formerly the Old Tai O Police Station, which was built in 1902 and is a Grade II historic building. The Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau included the old police station in Batch I of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme in 2008. The historic building became a boutique hotel with nine guest rooms in 2012 upon the completion of a large-scale refitting project.

     Mrs Lam said she was pleased to know that the hotel had won several international awards for architecture and tourism within a few years, including an Award of Merit in the 2013 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. These awards have proved the success of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme and enhanced public awareness of the importance of conserving historic buildings, she added.

     Mrs Lam pointed out that another achievement of the revitalisation project was that it had successfully engaged relevant stakeholders and Tai O residents to participate in this heritage conservation project together, thus promoting the development of Tai O's tourism and local economy.

     The Tai O Heritage Hotel is situated on a small hill next to the Tai O ferry pier. Its guest rooms are converted from the rooms and facilities of the Old Tai O Police Station. Original features of the police station like cannons, searchlights, guard towers and bunkers have been well preserved to showcase the classic architectural style of the late 19th century.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Islands), Mr Anthony Li, and the Chairman of the Tai O Rural Committee, Mr Lou Cheuk-wing, Mrs Lam walked from the hotel to the Tai O bus terminus after the ceremony. She met and talked to local residents and shop owners en route to know more about their lives and the latest developments of Tai O.

Ends/Friday, May 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:09

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