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The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence is officially opened today (August 31), marking a new era of Hong Kong's museum services.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lam Woon-kwong noted that museum was an important cultural institution of a community and the development of museum services could mirror the quality of the cultural life of that community.
He said: "In my view, every region or community has its distinctive traditions and cultural characteristics. While it is useful to learn the experience of other places, we should not imitate others blindly. More importantly, we should develop our museum services with our own cultural identity so as to reveal the special features of the history of Hong Kong as well as to cater for the community's needs for a rich cultural life."
Mr Lam noted that with the three favourable conditions including the opening of more new cultural facilities, the setting up of the new Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Culture and Heritage Commission, and the new value of providing a diversified and quality museum service to the public, museum services would flourish in the twenty-first century.
Also officiating at the ceremony were Deputy Director of the Political Department of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Senior Colonel Rao Xinjian; Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Professor David Lung Ping-yee; Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah; Director of Architectural Services, Mr Pau Siu-hung, and Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History, Dr Joseph Ting Sun-pao.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah, noted that the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence was conserved from the hundred years' old Lei Yue Mun Fort and it featured the history of Hong Kong's coastal defence over the past six hundred years covering the Ming and Qing dynasties, the periods under the British rule and after the reunification of Hong Kong with China.
"The Museum has been opened to the public since July 25, 2000 and so far it has attracted more than 80,000 visitors. It is heartening to learn that a record high of some 9,000 visitors on a single day has been made. Both the public and the media speak highly of the architecture, facilities, exhibition and services of the Museum. I am confident that the Museum will become a popular tourist attraction of heritage interest," said Mr Leung.
Located in Shau Kei Wan, the Museum is conserved and developed from the old fort which was built in 1887 to defend the eastern approaches to the Victoria harbour. It was the most sophisticated coastal fortifications at that time. When Japan invaded Hong Kong in 1941, the Fort became an important battlefield. After the war, the Fort was no longer significant in the defence of Hong Kong and the area was used as a training ground by the British army until 1987 when the site was vacated. The former Urban Council then decided that it be converted into a museum featuring the history of coastal defence in Hong Kong.
The new Museum is made up of three main areas, namely the Reception Area, the Redoubt and the Historical Trail. The Reception Area includes the main entrance, car park, military vehicle and gun display area and the reception block. The Redoubt, which is the core building of the Museum, is renovated as the major exhibition area to house the standing exhibition entitled "600 Years of Hong Kong's Coastal Defence". With some 400 items of military artefacts, textual and graphical illustrations and supplemented by multi-media programmes, the exhibition features the history of Hong Kong's coastal defence over the past six hundred years.
Other historical military structures in the site, such as the gun batteries, the Brennan Torpedo Station, caponiers and magazines, are properly restored to form a Historical Trail so that visitors can appreciate their roles in the network of defences at the Lei Yue Mun Fort. In addition, there are a souvenir shop in the Museum and a purpose-built building at the eastern part of the Redoubt to house a cafeteria.
The Museum is located at 175 Tung Hei Road, Shau Kei Wan. It is a mere 15-minute walk from Shau Kei Wan MTR Exit B2. Public transportation accessible includes New World First Bus No. 84, Citybus No. 85 and Airport Bus No. A12. Besides, there is free shuttle bus service provided from Heng Fa Chuen MRT Station to the Museum from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The Museum opens from 10 am to 5 pm and it closes on Thursdays and the first two days of the Chinese New Year. Admission fee is HK$10 with half-price concession to people with disabilities, full-time students and senior citizens. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
For details, please visit the Museum's website at: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History or call 2569 1500.
End/Thursday, August 31, 2000
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