Global Network of National Geoparks

Ap Chau Story Room of Hong Kong Global Geopark opens

Source :The Hong Kong Global Geopark of China Published :April 13, 2018

The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (HKUGGp) Ap Chau Story Room was officially opened on 8 April 2018 and is ready for public visits on Sundays and public holidays starting on 15 April 2018.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Dr. Kirstin Lemon, member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council; Mr. Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment; Dr. Leung Siu-fai, Director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; Mr. So Sai-chi, Chairman of the North District Council; Mrs. Alice Chan, Executive Director of the Travel Industry Council; Mr. Lee Koon-hung, Chairman of the Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee; Dr. Yau Wing-kong, Chief Executive Officer of the Environment Association; representatives of the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network and the Lions Club; and Ap Chau villagers.

 

Dressed in traditional costumes, the villagers perform the land dragon boat dance to

celebrate the opening of the Ap Chau Story Room and to welcome the guests. 

A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony marks the official opening of the Ap Chau Story Room

The opening ceremony of the Ap Chau Story Room attracted about 600 geopark partners and community members 

 

In collaboration with the Ap Chau geopark community on Ap Chau and the Lions Club, an old village school, named Ap Chau Fishermen's Children Primary School, built in 1953, was converted into a new visitor base in HKUGGp. The Ap Chau Story Room, which will be co-managed by the Ap Chau community, the Lions Club and HKUGGp, will serve as a new visitor base to promote HKUGGp and the UNESCO Global Geopark concept, and engage the Ap Chau community in preserving and celebrating the island’s unique geological and cultural heritage. 

The Ap Chau Story Room illustrates traditional Tanka culture and heritage, human habitation and the way of life on Ap Chau, and provides basic information about HKUGGp, the various geopark networks it is a member of, and the island’s extraordinary red breccia, which is rare in Hong Kong.

Visitors can start their trip to Ap Chau in the Ap Chau Story Room, where they can explore the informative story board, collections and photo records that make up the rich cultural heritage of Ap Chau. To benefit the geopark community through the promotion of responsible green tourism in HKUGGp, training opportunities were offered to the Ap Chau community in 2017. The graduates are now ready to provide guided tours of the Story Room.

 

Ap Chau villagers deliver a guided tour of the Ap Chau Story Room for Dr. Kirstin Lemon and

representatives from the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network. 

 

For more information on the Ap Chau Story Room, please visit:

http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s2f5.htm