16 July 2020 – The Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation (‘HCF’), which operates the UNESCO-awarded Tai O Heritage Hotel (‘Hotel’), furthers its efforts in supporting sustainable tourism and nurturing future leaders with the launch of the Hospitality Young Leaders Programme (‘Programme’). Commenced on 15 July 2020 and spanning six months, ten passionate graduates of universities and institutes in Hong Kong, with nine of them having completed study in tourism and conservation-related subjects, are hired and receiving valuable training in sustainable tourism, hospitality, heritage and cultural conservation.

The Programme has been well received as applicants treasure the meaningful opportunities and exposure amid the challenging business environment. Under the Programme, the participants will be able to equip themselves with valuable, practical knowledge through cross-departmental, on-the-job training at Hong Kong’s first UNESCO-awarded hotel. They will also support an array of community outreach and engagement activities, including docent tours and festivities to present the historical and architectural significance of the Hotel to local and overseas visitors. The six-month programme will conclude with a presentation by the young leaders to share their thoughts on promoting Tai O as a sustainable tourism destination.

‘This comprehensive programme provides a meaningful platform for aspiring young leaders to learn practical, professional skills about hospitality and conservation. It also helps the Hong Kong youth to understand our unique Hong Kong history and culture, connect to the community and contribute to our society in a positive way. In a globally challenging time like this, it is even more important to pass our positive values to the youth, help them to appreciate the diverse traditions and prepare them for the future. We are delighted to provide the opportunities, and I look forward to their contributions to our UNESCO-awarded heritage hotel and the community,’ remarks Mr Daryl Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation.

Cheryl Fung, a Tai O youngster, is one of the participants of the Programme. ‘As a local resident, I always enjoy the enchanting fishing village and its unique history. I want to share the beauty of the place where I was born and raised with more people. I had worked as a heritage programme helper at museum, temple and other heritage projects. This is a great opportunity to learn heritage and hospitality at Hong Kong’s first UNSECO-awarded hotel, it will enable me to have a better understanding of the industry as well as clearer direction for career development,’ remarks Cheryl.

Ronald Mak, a graduate of tourism and event management, is another participant of the Programme, and he looks forward to gaining a better understanding of Tai O and its historical significance. ‘I treasure the opportunity in this challenging time. In addition to acquiring practical knowledge in hotel management, I can learn to promote sustainable tourism and the beauty of Hong Kong to a wider audience. I look forward to supporting the community,’ says Ronald.

Committed to showcasing the heritage significance of historical projects, the HCF has revitalised and converted the 118-year-old Old Tai O Police Station, a Grade II historic building, into the nine-room Tai O Heritage Hotel, which commenced operation in March 2012. Operated as a not-for-profit social enterprise, surpluses are channelled to support site maintenance.

About the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation
Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation Limited (HCF) is a not-for-profit organisation established by the Ng Family in March 2008. It identifies and showcases the heritage significance of historical projects. HCF holds the belief that conservation of cultural heritage helps the community to build a sense of identity and strengthen relationships in society. The primary objectives of HCF are to revitalise and conserve historic buildings, and to promote the appreciation and importance of cultural heritage to the community. Directors of HCF are enthusiastic supporters of community initiatives, and possess considerable experience in heritage buildings revitalisation projects. They have been actively involved in many heritage projects, including Tai O Heritage Hotel, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Waterboat House, Clifford Pier and Far East Square.
www.hkheritage.org

About Tai O Heritage Hotel
Tai O Heritage Hotel, located in Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O and surrounded by lush greenery, has been transformed from the 118-year-old Old Tai O Police Station, built in 1902 and graded as a Grade II historic building by the Antiquities Advisory Board. The hotel is part of Batch I of Hong Kong SAR Government Development Bureau’s Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme. Opened in March 2012 and operated as a not-for-profit social enterprise, Tai O Heritage Hotel provides free guided tours daily for the general public and charitable organisations with the aim of heightening awareness of the conservation of historic buildings. It is home to nine elegantly decorated rooms, the Heritage Interpretation Centre and the glass-roofed open-view restaurant Tai O Lookout. The Hotel has won the Award of Merit at UNESCO 2013 Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Awards and has been voted as ‘Asia’s Leading Heritage Hotel 2016’ in World Travel Awards™. It has received more than 1.2 million visitors and guests since opening.
www.taioheritagehotel.com

4 March 2019 – The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation has pledged RMB100 million to the Palace Museum to support heritage research and conservation of the Palace of Prolonging Happiness (Yanxi Gong) as well as the establishment of a gallery of foreign artefacts.  The signing ceremony of the donation was held at the Palace Museum in Beijing on 2 March 2019; it was graced by the Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Luo Shu-Gang, Minister of Culture and Tourism of China; Mr Zhang Xiao-Ming, Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office; Mr Wang Zhi-Min, Director of the Central Government’s Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Liu Yu-Zhu, Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration; Dr Shan Ji-Xiang, Director of the Palace Museum and other esteemed guests.

Established in 1925, the Palace Museum is housed in the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties; the integrated national gallery is among the top five museums in the world.  The 600-year-old wooden palatial complex, the largest and the best preserved wooden palatial complex in the world, epitomises Chinese architectural prowess and art, and is a paragon of Chinese culture and wisdom.  It houses more than 1.8 million sets of precious cultural relics, including a mega collection of literature, antiques from imperial collections and artefacts.  The Palace Museum has embarked on the most comprehensive renovation in the 21^st century.

Yanxi Gong is one of the Six Eastern Palaces in the inner zone of the Forbidden City.  It was built in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yong-Le (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty, and has served as the residence of court concubines during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  During the reign of Xuantong (1909-1911), construction of a western-style, three-storey building was initiated on the site of Yanxi Gong.  Named Lingzhao Belvedere (also known as Crystal Palace or the Hall of Water), it is the only western-style building in the Forbidden City.  The building was built on white marble foundation with cast-iron hexagonal pavilion structure, it was adorned with intricately carved white marble façade and coloured porcelain tiles.  The construction illustrates cultural exchanges and how traditional Chinese form of arts and architecture blends with Western style.  Yanxi Gong was converted into the warehouse of antiques of Palace Museum in 1931.  It will house the Gallery of Foreign Artefacts after restoration.

Mr Robert Ng, Chairman of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, said at the signing ceremony, ‘The Palace is China’s national treasure.  It epitomises the highest level of traditional Chinese architectural prowess as well as Chinese philosophy and art. The Belt and Road Initiative not only entails hardware like infrastructure, it also aims to promote Chinese culture and exchanges with other countries.’

The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation is a steadfast advocate of good causes covering poverty alleviation, education, medical service, environmental protection and heritage conservation.  Over the years, it has pledged over RMB2 billion to support various good causes.  In 2018, the Foundation donated RMB10 million to the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation to support restoration of the section of the Great Wall in Yanqing District.  The ‘Ng Teng Fong / Sino Visits to the Great Wall for Hong Kong Youth’ project was also commenced.  With an objective of deepening appreciation of history and fostering sense of identity, Hong Kong youths will be hosted to annual visits to the Great Wall to appreciate the national treasure first-hand, and record the development of the Great Wall with their writing.  The Foundation has also pledged to Tsinghua University to support its Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) Programme to groom the next generations of talents with broad perspective.  With the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the Foundation looks forward to supporting exchanges of the youth in the bay area, creating an environment conducive to realise their dreams.

Mr Daryl Ng, Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Deputy Chairman of Sino Group, said, ‘China is one of the earliest civilisations, it is important for us to safeguard cultural heritage.  We are honoured to have the opportunity to support restoration of such a unique landmark.  Lingzhao Belvedere of Yanxi Gong is the only Western-style building in the Forbidden City, it retains the Chinese culture while harmoniously blending in Western architecture.  This remarkable example of East-meets-West, created in the Forbidden City more than 110 years ago, shows that China has been open to different cultures.  The Belt and Road Initiative continues this spirit, and promotes cultural development with other countries.  The pledge will be used to support restoration of Yanxi Gong.  After restoration, the palace will be an attractive destination for visitors and for those who want to better understand Chinese culture.  More importantly, exchange programmes and workshops will be offered to Hong Kong youths to help them appreciate the value and craft of the Forbidden City first-hand.’

About the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation

The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation was established in 2010 in memory of the late founder of Sino Group, Mr Ng Teng Fong. The Foundation is a steadfast advocate of education, youth development and community services. In the past years, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation has supported over 200 local non-governmental organisations and social enterprises. In addition to supporting good causes such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the National Gallery of Singapore and restoration of the Great Wall, the Foundation provides financial assistance for students from underprivileged families in Mainland China and Hong Kong through the Ng Teng Fong Scholarships. It also supports scholastic initiatives of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University in Mainland China as well as the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

http://www.sino.com/NTFCF

11 December 2018 – Dedicated to promoting heritage conservation, sustainable tourism and sustainable development of the Tai O community, the UNESCO-awarded Tai O Heritage Hotel hosted its seventh annual Open House on 24 and 25 November 2018, welcoming over 2,000 local and overseas visitors who experienced first-hand the charm and heritage significance of the former Tai O Police Station and Tai O village. 

Operating as a non-profit-making social enterprise with all proceeds channelled to support the site and Tai O community, the Hotel sees engaging the younger generation the cornerstone of heritage conservation, and has organised the Young Ambassadors Programme for the third consecutive year.

More than 200 docent tours were conducted by the Young Ambassadors during the Open House. Over 35 university students and teenagers from Tai O and Lantau presented the historical significance of the 116-year-old, Grade II historic building, famed for being classically elegant with a mix of English and Chinese architectural features.

For the first time in Hong Kong, a Tai O-themed model exhibition in collaboration with local brick model enthusiasts has been staged at the Hotel. The impressive collection features the Hotel, landmark stilt houses, traditional Water Marriage and Dragon Boat Water Parade and the unique charm of ‘Venice of the Orient’. The exhibition is on until 6 January 2019.

‘Buildings give the community character and the sense of connection. By preserving buildings of historical value, we breathe new life into old buildings while reinvigorating the broader neighbourhood, preserving the defining stories and memories for the many generations to come,’ remarks Mr Daryl Ng, Director of the Heritage Conservation Foundation.

‘We strive to engage the community in our conservation efforts.  Tai O Heritage Hotel is part of the Tai O family, we seek to work with the Tai O community to promote eco-tourism and heritage conservation,’ adds Mr Ng.

About Tai O Heritage Hotel

Tai O Heritage Hotel, located at Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O and surrounded by lush greenery, has been transformed from the 116-year-old Old Tai O Police Station built in 1902 and graded as a Grade II historic building by the Antiquities Advisory Board. The hotel is part of Batch I of Hong Kong SAR Government Development Bureau’s Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme.  Opened in March 2012 and operated as a non-profit-making social enterprise, Tai O Heritage Hotel provides free guided tours daily for the general public and charitable organisations with the aim of heightening awareness of the conservation of historic buildings. It is now home to nine elegantly decorated rooms, the Heritage Interpretation Centre and the glass-roofed open-view restaurant Tai O Lookout. The Hotel has won the Award of Merit at UNESCO 2013 Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Awards and has been voted as ‘Asia’s Leading Heritage Hotel 2016’ in World Travel Awards™.  It has received more than 1.2 million visitors and guests since opening.

www.taioheritagehotel.com 

About the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation
Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation Limited (HCF) is a non-profit-making organisation established by the Ng Family in March 2008. It identifies and showcases the heritage significance of historical projects in Hong Kong and Singapore. HCF holds the belief that conservation of cultural heritage helps the community to build a sense of identity and strengthen relationships in society. The primary objectives of HCF are to revitalise and conserve historic buildings, and to promote the appreciation and importance of cultural heritage to the community. Directors of HCF are enthusiastic supporters of community initiatives, and possess considerable experience in heritage buildings revitalisation projects. They have been actively involved in many heritage projects, including Tai O Heritage Hotel, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Waterboat House, Clifford Pier and Far East Square.

www.hkheritage.org