060107en05006

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

January 7, 2006

Visits

Islands a tourism treasure-house: CE

The Islands District, Hong Kong's tourism treasure-house, will be preserved so that local and overseas visitors will be able to explore the areas' valuable monuments and experience the city's traditional customs, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

Mr Tsang today toured Cheung Chau and Tai O, where he served as District Officer in the '70s.

Donald Tsang chats with stilted house resident

Home visit: Chief Executive Donald Tsang chats with seniors, samples some red bean cake and chats with residents of traditional stilted houses during his visit to Cheung Chau and Tai O.

Revisiting the places of well-preserved traditions and customs, Mr Tsang was touched and impressed by the community's tranquility, stability and harmony.

He visited seniors at Wan Ho Kan Neighbourhood Elderly Centre and looked at services - counselling and rehabilitation, support services for elderly carers and social activities - provided for them.

Caring community

"It is important to foster a caring community and I am pleased to see the centre help promote an active and healthy lifestyle and enhance our seniors' sense of belonging to society," Mr Tsang said.

He enjoyed home-made red bean cake at a teahouse run by a Japanese couple near East Bay, Cheung Chau, saying, "Hong Kong is a place full of opportunities and the amicable and agreeable nature of our society enables people of different nationalities to set down roots in Hong Kong easily."

Mr Tsang then visited the new Tai O Sheltered Boat Anchorage at Tai O. It provides permanent anchorage facilities for Tai O fishermen and integrates protection of the ecosystem, preservation of cultural heritage and promotion of tourism, as well as revitalising Tai O's economy.

"Tai O was one of the largest fishing villages in Hong Kong and an historical base for fishing boats in the western approaches of Lantau Island and the Peal River Estuary. As the old seawall had been seriously eroded, the Government restored it and provided a railing to form a pedestrian link," Mr Tsang said.

Cultural heritage

"The restored seawall, together with the mangrove habitat, will become valuable attributes of Tai O for visitors interested in eco-tourism and cultural heritage."

Mr Tsang visited the Tai O Rural Committee Historical & Cultural Centre which features more than 100 Tai O ntiques and fishing tools.

"The exhibits witness the changes and development of Tai O and help Hong Kong people and visitors better understand the history of the place as a fishing village," he said.

He called on a family living in a stilted house in Tai O. A 74-year-old family member told Mr Tsang that he enjoyed a tranquil life in Tai O while also seeing its development over the years.

Mr Tsang enjoyed lunch at a Tai O restaurant which has been operating since the '60s.