A delegation from the Home Affairs Bureau and the Antiquities Advisory Board will be on a five-day visit from May 15 to study heritage conservation at Shanxi to better understand heritage protection and boost ties with the Mainland on cultural heritage research.

The delegation, led by board chairman Edward Ho and Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Lolly Chiu, comprises 11 board members, including officials from the bureau and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.

Co-ordinated by the National Administration for Cultural Heritage, the delegation will visit historic sites and monuments in Datong, Yingxian, Wutaishan, Taiyuan and Pingyao and meet local officials and conservation experts. Members will also meet representatives from the National Administration for Cultural Heritage in Beijing to explore exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland on cultural heritage research.

With visits to archaeological sites, the delegates will better understand heritage protection, conservation and management, as well as the provincial governments' conservation policies, with emphasis on heritage legislation, city planning, macro management of cultural heritage and education.

A report on findings and observations from the study tour will be presented to the bureau for reference and to the board meeting for discussion.

The board organised similar study tours in the past to gain experience of heritage conservation in the region, including visits to archaeological sites in Shan Tong in November 2001, and Macau in October 2003.