Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the 25th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony cum "Heritage Connect" Launching Ceremony of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust today (December 15):

     Good afternoon.  It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the Heritage Walk Day cum "Heritage Connect" Launching Ceremony, which is a signature event to commemorate the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all incumbent and previous members of the Board of Trustees and the Council of the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust for their dedicated efforts in promoting the conservation of Hong Kong's cultural heritage by funding various heritage projects and organising public education activities throughout the past 25 years.

     Heritage conservation has been one of the priorities of the current-term Government.  This year, the Government has allocated additional resources for strengthening the protection, promotion and transmission of intangible cultural heritage, exploring the expansion of the Hong Kong Museum of History, making sustained efforts in renovating the permanent exhibition of the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, as well as taking forward the advance work for the construction of the Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre, which will serve to enhance the functions and status of our museums in such areas as the collection, conservation, study and display of cultural heritage.

     Furthermore, the Government will work closely with selected non-profit-making organisations through the Built Heritage Conservation Fund to implement the first five batches of projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme. We will also continue to process applications in relation to graded historic buildings which are privately owned or leased, with a view to helping prevent deterioration of these historic buildings owing to lack of maintenance.
 
     The success in conservation and inheritance of culture depends on the co-operation between the public, the Government and all sectors of the community. It is essential for keeping our culture alive for future generations. I would like to congratulate the Trust on its 25th anniversary once again, and wish the Trust many more anniversaries ahead. May I also wish the "Heritage Connect" overwhelming viewership and today's Heritage Walk Day a huge success.  Thank you.

Ends/Saturday, December 15, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:26

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