Two Historic Sites in Hong Kong Declared Monuments by Antiquities Authority

Two historic buildings declared as monuments

The Government today (January 30) gazetted a notice announcing that the Antiquities Authority (i.e. the Secretary for Development) has declared the Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital in Sai Ying Pun and Kwong Fook Tsz in Sheung Wan as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.

Located on Western Street in Sai Ying Pun, Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital was established by the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee (CPDC) and opened in 1922 to provide maternity services for Chinese women in Hong Kong and train Chinese midwives using modern methods. After the hospital was relocated to new premises on Hospital Road in Sai Ying Pun in 1955, the main building at the original site has been used as a community centre since 1961 and continues to play a significant role in public healthcare and community services to this day. The main building is an iconic red-brick building constructed on a coursed rubble plinth, featuring a granite portico at the main entrance and a spiral staircase in the interior. Being one of the few surviving buildings related to the CPDC, the Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital exemplifies the co-operation between Chinese community leaders and Western medical professionals in the early development of maternal health services in Hong Kong.

Kwong Fook Tsz, also known as Pak Shing Temple, is located on Tai Ping Shan Street in Sheung Wan. It was built in 1895 with funds raised by Chinese elites. The temple houses soul tablets of Chinese workers who died in Hong Kong in the earlier years and enshrines deities including Ksitigarbha, Chai Kung, Shui Ching Pak and Tai Shui. In its early years, the temple also provided refuge and medical services for the sick, destitute and elderly, later contributing to the establishment of Tung Wah Hospital. Kwong Fook Tsz adopts the three-hall-one-bay layout with a two-courtyard design, which is rare among Hong Kong temples. The Shiwan ceramics on the ridge of the entrance hall are the most prominent external architectural feature. The temple demonstrates the inseparable ties and cohesion among the Chinese community during the early period of Hong Kong and is of great historical significance.

Information on the two monuments is available on the website of the Antiquities and Monuments Office (www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/index.html).

The Kwong Fook Tsz in Sheung Wan, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Kwong Fook Tsz in Sheung Wan, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Kwong Fook Tsz in Sheung Wan, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital in Sai Ying Pun, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital in Sai Ying Pun, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Main Building of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital in Sai Ying Pun, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases