(Hong Kong, November 22, 2015) The rich history of Hong Kong and the memories of its people are encapsulated in the walls of both old and new buildings, such as Woo Cheong Pawn Shop that has stood proudly for over a century and the modern Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the district of Wan Chai. Hang Lung's senior management members, Gabriel Cheung, Assistant Director (Cost & Controls), and Peter Leung, Assistant Director (Project Construction), together with members of their families became docents for a group of secondary school students to unravel Wan Chai's development from its beginnings as a Chinese community settlement to the bustling and vibrant commercial hub it is today.

The Hang Lung As One volunteer team and more than thirty students undertook their tour of the distinctive architectural features of the buildings of Wan Chai yesterday (November 21), visiting both old and new to discover the fascinating stories that the bricks and mortar have to tell. As they made their way along the busy thoroughfares and winding backstreets, they took in the likes of the iconic Blue House and the Comix Home Base, which have undergone extensive revitalization work to give them a new lease on life; and the Hong Kong Arts Centre, which has catered many needs despite the size.

Gabriel Cheung, who is responsible for the control of construction costs for projects on the Mainland, supported the activity with his wife and daughter. Gabriel drew a parallel between his sharing of stories about the history of Wan Chai with the students and his sharing about day-to-day encounters in the workplace with his daughter as it is all about captivating people with stories so that they can resonates. He even joked that he had become his daughter's assistant when she enthusiastically shared her own insights with an iPad during the tour.

Being an architect himself and leading the asset enhancement initiatives for two projects in Shanghai, Peter Leung joined the activity with his son who planned to study architecture at university. He shared his experience of heritage conservation and revitalization with reference to two of Wan Chai's stunning graded historical buildings - the Woo Cheong Pawn Shop and the Blue House. Peter was involved in the design and construction process of some of the buildings they visited in the tour. He used his years of experience and knowledge to encourage the young students to appreciate the importance of architecture as a living testament to the city's historical development.

Hang Lung Properties has always stood for the highest standards of design and construction in the development of its landmark properties. At the same time, the company has always been aware that the future of the city's skyline lies in the hands of the young. Hang Lung is determined to cultivate an appreciation for architecture in the young, through initiatives like these, so as to nurture a new generation of architects who will one day design buildings that combine functionality with aesthetics. Since last year, the Hang Lung As One volunteer team has designed a number of different routes for their architectural tours and led over a hundred students to explore the architectural highlights of our beautiful city. Hang Lung volunteers become docents after extensive training and then share their knowledge on architecture and history with the students.

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