CITY OF LIFE’S JANUARY RECOMMENDATION: TSUEN WAN

While the ancient harbour settlement of Tsuen Wan is now better known as a major residential and industrial centre at one end of the Mass Transit Railway, it still possesses a remarkable wealth of cultural treasures and other tourist attractions.

Among the great variety of interesting places to visit are Sam Tung Uk Museum, Discovery Park, Chuk Lam Sim Yuen, Yuen Yuen Institute, Western Monastery, Tai Mo Shan Country Park, Shing Mun Reservoir, the Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre and Sham Tseng, which is internationally famous for its tasty roast goose.

Visitors to Hong Kong and residents will have the opportunity to discover these hidden delights in the coming weeks as Tsuen Wan District takes its turn to be “Recommendation of the Month” for January 2002, as part of the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! tourism campaign organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board[1] (HKTB). Full details of the District’s month in the spotlight were announced at a ceremony held today (27 December) at Sam Tung Uk Museum.

To showcase further the district’s diverse attractions, a number of special events are on offer during January. These include the Chrysanthemum Show at Yuen Yuen Institute, the district festive lighting programme, and cultural activities at Sam Tung Uk Museum introducing the traditional Hakka lifestyle.

Officiating at today’s ceremony were the Chairman of Tsuen Wan District Council, Mr Chau How-Chen, JP; Acting District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Ms Shea Wing-man; HKTB’s General Manager – Destination Marketing, Mr Lambert Chan; Assistant Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Winifred Chung; and representing Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Mr Yim Shui-yuen.

Mr Chau remarked that Tsuen Wan District Council paid close attention to tourism development in the district, and proactively reflected its views on the promotion of tourism to Government.

“We also support numerous cultural activities every year, including the Arts Festival, the Sports Festival, the festive lighting programme and the Countdown Show,” he said. “We hope that residents in other districts and overseas visitors will come and explore Tsuen Wan’s scenic spots, and at the same time enjoy a variety of different events.

“This year, the District Council has again subsidised the display of dazzling lights at various locations in the town, so as to create a festive atmosphere in the district and attract local and overseas visitors,” Mr Chau added.

Miss Shea cited the Chrysanthemum Show at Yuen Yuen Institute as one event that was “not to be missed” during January. “Also, the festive lighting in Tsuen Wan has already been switched on for visitors to enjoy over the Christmas and New Year period,” she noted.

“To tie in with the ‘Recommendation of the Month’, a series of activities will be held at Sam Tung Uk Museum during January featuring Hakka mountain songs, puppet shows and Chinese lantern-making demonstrations,” Miss Shea added. “Through these events, visitors will be able to see for themselves the unique lifestyle and culture of traditional clans in Hong Kong.”

Food is central to all societies and Tsuen Wan is well-known for its amazing number of eating places, offering both Chinese and international cuisine to suit every visitor’s taste. Tsuen Wan District Office has sponsored the publication by SKH Lady MacLehose Centre of a special food guide for visitors and residents, called Tsuen Wan Gourmet Twin, encouraging them to sample the sumptuous dishes on offer. The guidebook is expected to be of great benefit in developing tourism in Tsuen Wan.

Sam Tung Uk Museum is already widely promoted by the HKTB as one of the district’s great cultural and historical treasures, Mr Chan observed. “With the additional arts and cultural activities being organised at the Museum this month by the District Council and Leisure and Cultural Services Department, both visitors and residents will be encouraged to discover to this former Hakka walled village and get a taste of early rural life in Hong Kong,” he said.

“The Hakka lifestyle is very representative of Hong Kong’s history and tales of this fascinating culture were submitted by several participants in our recent Tell Your Hong Kong Story competition,” Mr Chan added. “We know that these cultural features and customs hold broad appeal to visitors and would like local residents to get to know them better, too, so that they can help promote them and be good hosts when they welcome visitors.”

During the “Recommendation of the Month” promotion, the Chrysanthemum Show at Yuen Yuen Institute will be included as a special feature on the HKTB’s popular New Territorites tour The Land Between, so that participants can enjoy this colourful event which features many different varieties of chrysanthemums and spectacular floral exhibits in the shapes of animals.

As a related event, the HKTB has recently launched the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! International Photo Competition. From now until February 2002, visitors and residents can win attractive prizes by capturing the City of Life’s enjoyment, fun and vibrancy on film, at any event and attraction in the City of Life: Hong Kong is it! programme. This includes all activities in the “Recommendation of the Month – Tsuen Wan” programme, as well as CLP Lights Up Hong Kong and the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade and Fiesta.

The City of Life: Hong Kong is it! campaign is organised by the HKTB in co-operation with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Home Affairs Department, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Tourism Commission, with the support of the 18 District Councils and with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as Principal Sponsor.