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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
An exhibition of photographs and documentary videos of three public housing estates - Shek Kip Mei, So Uk and Lower Ngau Tau Kok - will be open to members of the public from tomorrow (July 12).
Presented by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the "Light & Shade: life passˆm in old estates" exhibition provides a visual record of the living environment in early public housing estates and the close community bonds among residents.
Officiating at the opening ceremony at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre today (July 11), Housing Authority Chairman Ms Eva Cheng said that these three estates, built in the 1950s and 1960s, had played an important social role in the early years of Hong Kong.
To preserve this special part of Hong Kong's housing history, plans have been formulated to retain and revitalise their heritage.
Ms Cheng said that Mei Ho House of Shek Kip Mei Estate was going to be revitalised into a youth hostel with a museum featuring public housing history.
For So Uk Estate, a number of unique architectural structures - an entrance archway, a triangular white house and a pavilion with a giant mural painted on its arch shape ceiling - will be re-installed within the new development site.
A "cultural spine" would also be set up at the new Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate in the future to house the relics of the old estate, Ms Cheng said.
The photographic images and documentary videos on display at the exhibition are the works of local photographers and video production companies. They have been commissioned by the Housing Authority to capture and record the historic vistas as well as the elapsing lifestyle and emotional ties of the residents of Shek Kip Mei, So Uk and Lower Ngau Tau Kok estates.
The photo and video exhibition will make its debut from July 12 to 25 at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in Shek Kip Mei. The exhibits will then move to the Park Court of Pacific Place from July 26 to 30, Sha Tin Town Hall from August 11 to 16 and Tuen Mun Town Hall from August 23-30.
To tie in with the exhibition, the Housing Authority will open part of Mei Ho House to enable the public to revisit the lifestyle of the residents half a century ago and appreciate the simplicity in the architectural design of Mark I resettlement blocks on July 12, 18, 19 and 25. During these days, free guided tours introducing the background of Shek Kip Mei Estate and Mei Ho House will be available.
There will also be a session on July 19 where the three photographers commissioned by the authority will share with people their distinct experience in accomplishing the photography projects.
It is free admission for all the activities. More details of the exhibition and associated activities are available at the Housing Authority/Housing Department website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk) .
Ends/Saturday, July 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:31
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