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Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (October 26):
Question:
Before the reunification of Hong Kong, councillors of the former Urban Council had placed a time capsule underneath the ground in the vicinity of the Hong Kong City Hall and expected to unearth it 10 years later. However, as the Urban Council had already been dissolved, it is no longer possible for it to unearth the time capsule now. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will unearth the aforesaid time capsule; if so, when the capsule will be unearthed, and whether a function will be held for unearthing it; if a function will be held, of the details; if the time capsule will not be unearthed, of the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
To commemorate Hong Kong's reunification with the Mainland China, members of the former Urban Council (ex-UC) placed a time capsule in the Memorial Garden of Hong Kong City Hall in June 1997, and it was scheduled to be opened after a decade.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), being the management authority of City Hall, has earlier conducted a detailed study of the legal and technical issues pertaining to the handling of the time capsule placed by ex-UC members. After consideration, the LCSD now proposes to open the time capsule in the first quarter of next year to tie in with City Hall's 50th Anniversary. The exact date and detailed arrangements will be worked out and announced after consultation with relevant parties (including ex-UC members).
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:24
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