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The rehabilitation ceremony of Hung Shing Temple at Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung was held at the temple this (March 11) morning to celebrate the completion of the restoration work.
The exact building date of the temple was not known, but it is thought to date from 1889 (the 9th year of the Emperor Guangxu) according to the name board. From the villagers' records, the temple has been renovated in 1949, 1961 and 1985. The temple is at present a grade III historical building.
Since most of the Kau Sai villagers were fishermen, the temple was built to honour "Hung Shing", God of the Sea. The temple is typical of small rural temples of the area, all built at the same time and consists of a main hall with altars erected and two side halls, the right-hand side being quarters for the temple keeper and the left-hand being formerly used as a school.
The temple's altar table, furniture and carvings are of the late Qing dynasty. Model dragonboat and various seafaring items are displayed in the main hall. To preserve these significant internal features, their conservation was entrusted to a specialist conservator for the first time.
Speaking at the rehabilitation ceremony, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah noted that Kau Sai Chau has a long history where many cultural relics of the Neolithic Period and the Han Dynasty have been found.
"The Hung Shing Temple is one of the most important monuments on Kau Sai Chau and in Sai Kung," Mr Leung said.
"As mentioned by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, in the policy address he delivered before, there are many historic buildings and archaeological sites in Hong Kong that deserve our protection and wide publicity to the world. Over the years, with the commitment and promotional efforts of the Antiquities Advisory Board, the work of heritage protection has made significant progress,"
"Upon the setting up of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, I am confident that our Antiquities and Monuments Office, together with our thematic museums, will make every effort to carry out the conservation work effectively,"
"To successfully protect our cultural legacy, we cannot solely count on the government. It is equally if not more vital to have the general public and community organisations actively involved and to play a supporting role," he added.
The restoration project of Hung Shing Temple, began in November 1999, was sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with the staunch support of the Sai Kung District Council. The Antiquities and Monuments Office and the professional conservation architects were responsible for supervising the restoration works.
Other officiating guests include Chairman of Heung Yee Kuk, New Territories, Mr Lau Wong-fat; Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Professor David Lung; Director of Charities and Corporate Secretariat of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr David P W Yau; Sai Kung District Officer, Mr Simon Yau and Chairman of Sai Kung District Council Mr Georgy Ng Sze-fuk.
End/Saturday, March 11, 2000 NNNN
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