Revitalising Hong Kong ’ s Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme - Wikipedia
“ Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme ” is an initiative launched by the Hong Kong Government , as part of a broader policy of heritage conservation in Hong Kong . In order to preserve and put historic buildings to good use , and promote public participation in conserving historic buildings , the Hong Kong Government has chosen Government-owned buildings for adaptive reuse under the Scheme .
As of 2018 , eight properties have been opened in their new functions and 11 additional properties have been allotted for renovation . New uses include a museum , a marketplace , a ‘ creative arts psychological therapy centre ’, a facility to train guide dogs for the blind , and a leadership training centre with a hostel .
Eligible applicants are non-profit-making organisations with charitable status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance and joint ventures of two or more non-profit-making organisations . Participation requirements are broad , with equal weight promised to organisations regardless of size , age , or ‘ local experience in heritage conservation ’.
Applicants submit proposals for using these buildings to provide services or business in the form of social enterprise . Submissions include detailed plans to show how :
● the historic buildings would be preserved ;
● their historical significance would be brought out effectively ;
● the social enterprise would operate in terms of financial viability ; and
● how the local community would benefit , especially in terms of jobs and cultural landmarks .
Funding can be entirely independent , or Government funding support may be available . Government funding may come in the form of a grant for renovation , reduced rental fees , or a grant to assist with start-up costs and early operating costs .
The Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation ( ACBHC ), composed of experts in development and conservation , then assesses the proposals . After two rounds of assessment , the ACBHC chooses the bidding winner .
Garden ‘ stepping stone ’ turns out to be an ancient Roman Artefact - Live Science
A seemingly dull marble slab , used for 10 years as a stepping stone in an English garden , is actually a rare ancient Roman engraving , a new analysis finds .
The discovery surprised its owner , who learned that the 25-inch-long ( 63cm ) slab — a stone she had previously used as a stair while mounting her horse — dated to the second century A . D . and was worth about USD20,400 (£ 15,000 ).
However , no one knows how the marble masterpiece ended up in England . It was likely carved in Greece or Asia Minor ( modern-day Turkey ), according to a statement from Woolley and Wallis , a U . K auction house that is handling the sale of the slab .
Some of the stone ’ s history is known : It was unearthed from a rock garden in Whiteparish , a village in southern England , about 20 years ago , according to Woolley and Wallis . Then , the woman who owns the stable used the mud-covered stone for a decade as a mounting block until one day she noticed a laurel wreath carved on its surface . An archaeologist who assessed the slab revealed that it was a rare find . Its inscription reads , “ the people ( and ) the Young Men ( honor ) Demetrios ( son ) of Metrodoros ( the son ) of Leukios ”.
Although the ancient Roman Empire extended into the British Isles , this slab wasn ’ t made locally ; it was likely brought to England about 300 years ago , according to Woolley and Wallis .
“ Artefacts of this type often came into England as the result of Grand Tours in the late 18 th and 19 th century , when wealthy aristocrats would tour Europe , learning about classical art and culture ,” Will Hobbs , an antiquities specialist at Woolley and Wallis , said in the statement . “ We assume that is how it entered the U . K . But what is a complete
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