What are the significance and rationale behind this concise slogan “To Love Our Heritage! Action Today!”? Before joining the YFOH training program, I thought heritage conservation is a simple job, which is to preserve by keeping hands-off. However, I learnt from the course that heritage conservation needs professional knowledge, specific methodologies and procedures. These are not as simple as what I expected before.

Besides, I discovered that other members of YFOH were also enthusiastic about heritage conservation. They actively discussed and presented their opinions. I hope we can continue to learn from each other and achieve our shared aim of “To Love Our Heritage! Action Today!”

When you are in your seventies and eighties, your grandchildren may ask you about your life story. Right, every piece of our memory forms our life story. Hong Kong story has no exception. The monuments and historical buildings around us testify our life. Our land had been inhabited by generations, it also keeps changing across time. We left our footprints there and so we have to cherish everything.

However, urban development causes the demolition of many historical buildings. I understand that we have to make a choice in the process of urban development. This makes me feel sad. After joining the YFOH scheme, I discovered that our society is still passionate about the preservations of the antiquities. I hope that this passion will grow stronger and stronger so that we can preserve all the monuments and historical buildings. Finally, these monuments and historical buildings can help us to write a life story for Hong Kong.

After joining the YFOH, I have a better understanding on the monuments and historical buildings of Hong Kong. With the new perspective on appreciating architectural heritage, those ordinary buildings now become noticeable and the integral parts of our city.

Surprisingly, Hong Kong is a place with rapid development, but still we can excavate many precious artifacts. By enhancing the knowledge on the antiquities, we can find the simple pattern of an artifact attractive. Through the different learning modes of the training program (like lectures, seminars, field visits and thematic study), the importance of conservation is highlighted and my interest of monuments and antiquities is established.

After the 3-day YFOH training program, I had learnt more about the duties of the Antiquities and Monuments Office and also realized that heritage conservation or adaptive reuse was not an easy task. It requires a lot of manpower, financial input and logistic supports.

Besides, I identified a number of historical buildings and declared monuments in Wan Chai, such as “Blue House”, Wan Chai Market and Old Wan Chai Post Office. These historical buildings witness the social changes of Wan Chai and exhibit different architectural style of Hong Kong. I am glad to be a YFOH and I hope I can visit more historical buildings in the future and enhance my understanding on heritage conservation.

We went to the Ping Shan Heritage Trail on the second day of Young Friends of Heritage Training. The first station was the old Ping Shan Police Station. We were the first batch of visitors because at that time it was not open to the public yet. Although there were not any exhibitions, its historical background was very impressive. After leaving the old Ping Shan Police Station, we started our journey on the Trail. There were many Chinese old-style buildings, and our knowledge of old Chinese architecture increased after the visit. The journey was meaningful and I have benefited a lot from it.

We visited a lot of Western buildings on the third day of the training. St. John's Cathedral was the most unforgettable one because there were many collections of wartime flags. St John's Cathedral is in Gothic architectural style. The Cathedral is serious but very special. I hope I can have another chance to visit this kind of buildings in future.

In the past whenever I entered an ancestral hall, I wanted to leave quickly. Also, I believed that every ancestral hall was the same; therefore, I did not pay attention on their characteristics. However, after I joined the Young Friends of Heritage, I have learned different building styles such as beam structure from the seminars. Besides, this activity made me have a better understanding of the background of local heritage, its custom and culture of a place more clearly.

I had visited the Ping Shan Heritage Trail and the Central and Western Heritage Trail (Central route) in these three days. I walked a lot in this journey. The docents also explained the heritage or history in details. Among all the heritages at the two trails, the Statue Square was the most impressive one. It was because I saw a lot of wreaths and flags there. The whole environment became especially serious .It seems to show respects to the deaths.

That experience was a little bit terrible. However, we understand that if we, the YFOH, are not willing to do it, who will do it?

During my first trip to the Ping Shan Heritage Trail with the staff from AMO, I visited many traditional Chinese buildings including Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda, Tang Ancestral Hall, Kun Ting Study Hall etc. I also learnt the history of Ping Shan and that of the Tang Clan, one of the "Five Great Clans" in the New Territories. Among all those buildings, Tang Ancestral Hall is very impressing to me. It is a magnificent three-hall two-courtyard structure where the wooden brackets and beams are elegantly carved.

Chung Wai Kuen
Ma On Shan St Joseph's Secondary School

I have learnt a lot in the three-day training and I recognize that the knowledge from books is very limited. The vivid presentation of the docents impressed me the most, and I would like to know more about the lives of our ancestors after visiting the monuments.

Siu Kwok Lim
TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College

This 3-day training was comprised of both happiness and hardship. I feel happy because I have visited many historic buildings. To me, Chinese architectures helped create a bucolic atmosphere in a village while western architectures gave us a solemn feeling. As a person who loves heritage, I wish I could do something to protect them. Though the stuffy weather made us feel uncomfortable during the field visits, I enjoyed the training and appreciated the work done by all docents and AMO staff!

Yu Yat Shing
Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School

I was not interested in Chinese architecture before I joined the Young Friends of Heritage Scheme, but my impression has been changed after the training. With the detailed introduction given by the docents, my knowledge on Chinese architecture was enhanced, and I was amazed by the creativity of our ancestors and the beautiful sculptures of Chinese architecture.

Fung Ka Yan, Yvonne
St. Paul's Secondary School

The first spot that we visited at Ping Shan was the Old Ping Shan Police Station which will be the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre in the future. What came next was Kun Ting Study Hall whose base and walls were made of granite and green bricks respectively. Apart from being as a study area for the Tangs, the Hall also provided shelter for the homeless during the Second World War. We also visited the Tang Ancestral Hall which was the first ancestral hall that I have ever visited. These traditional buildings, though simple in style, gave us a solemn feeling. I have learnt a lot about the characteristics and functions of Chinese architectural features.

Lee Ngai Lut
South Tuen Mun Government Secondary School

The visit to Ping Shan Heritage Trail was the most unforgettable activity in the three-day training as I love traditional Chinese architecture very much. I found that it was lovely to walk in the Trail as the ancestral hall, study hall and other historic buildings there helped create a bucolic atmosphere in the village. I am more determined to be an archaeologist and ready to take up the responsibility to protect local heritage after the visit. I wish I could participate more in voluntary work on heritage conservation and be a docent in the future.

Chan Sau Lin, Karina
St Paul's School (Lam Tin)

The building that impressed me the most was Ching Shu Hin which was a former guest house for prominent visitors and scholars. This historic building is characterized by both Chinese and Western architectural styles and the decorations inside the building were magnificent!

Choi Wing Yin
Ma On Shan St Joseph's Secondary School

I have never imagined that Chinese architectures are characterized by so many tactful designs. In fact, when our teacher first introduced the YFOH Scheme to us during the Chinese History lesson, most of us were not interested in it. However, owing to the sense of belongings to China and Hong Kong, I decided to join the Scheme with my classmates, hoping that we can learn more about the history and culture of Hong Kong. As expected, the training really brings us with knowledge outside classroom!

Elaine Lam
St. Paul's Secondary School

I was not serious at all when I first joined the YFOH Scheme, yet after joining the first day of the training, I recognized that AMO staff and other people had put a lot of effort in the planning of this Scheme. Since then, I became more concentrated in every activity. Although not all the things that we have learnt are deeply rooted in my mind, I will do my best in the forthcoming voluntary work.

Wong Tin Chi
Tuen Mun Catholic Secondary School

During the 3-day training programme last summer, we got a better understanding of the current situation of local heritage and monument sites. At the beginning, we thought that the training programme would be very boring but it was not at all. On the contrary, all of us were very excited when we visited the heritage sites. We asked the docents questions from time to time, and I suddenly felt that I had a mission to conserve our heritage!

As the community progresses and time changes, it seems that people have forgotten the need of heritage conservation. In fact, there is a unique story behind each historical building. Each of these stories requires us to further explore. So, I sincerely hope that while economic development becomes the major concern of our society, people can still pay more attention to the preservation of heritage. For me, I hope that I can take all my efforts as a member of the Young Friends of Heritage to promote the importance of heritage conversation.

Despite the poor weather during outing and the tight schedule, I really learn a lot during the three-day training. The session I like the most is "Learning Archeology Through Rubbing" Workshop since I could touch the finds directly and transformed its pattern on paper through rubbing. Though I failed three times before success, I enjoyed the valuable experience very much.

After participating in the training, I recognized that heritage is important to us. Since every heritage has its significance and value, they are so essential for us to study History. However, as the land supply in Hong Kong is so tense, it is so sad to learn that many historical buildings have to be demolished or renovated to serve the need of urban development.

Through the few days training, I was nourished from a person who have barely no understanding of Hong Kong's culture to the one with rather board exposure, which was really exciting! I believe all participants of the Young Friends of Heritage shared the same feeling too. From my point of view, the local heritage retains the peculiar characters and cultural features. They have witnessed the history of Hong Kong, comprising architectures of both Western and Chinese styles, and some unique forms of building like Tong Lau. Since heritage reminds us the local history and their cultural significances, their existences help to pass the message of heritage preservation to our future generations.

A stick of glazed haws, may make people water the mouth. To lick a bit of it is pleasantly sweet. Despite that the sour taste emerges, many people may still be infatuated with it. Being a docent is something very similar. At the beginning, I felt curious, refreshing and fascinated, just like the sweet taste of the glazed haws. But later on, the sourness came out. However, to be a docent is still fun because each time the participants of the tour are different and so my experience and impression will not be the same. Indeed it gives me a great sense of satisfaction for telling others what I have learned.

I love History. I remember that Emperor Tang Taizong once said "History acts like a mirror which allows me to identify the alarming signs of rise and fall of a society." In fact, history is a mirror for us to review the past, to reflect the present and to create the future. The aim of the Young Friends of Heritage Scheme is also to let us learn more about history and Hong Kong.

With the recommendation of my teacher, I joined this Scheme and I have got a great deal from it. I have not only learned the knowledge on architecture, but have also visited many heritage and monument sites, such as Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda, Lui Seng Chun, the Tang Ancestral Hall, Legislative Council Building and the Court of Final Appeal etc. These visits helped us to have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong and as we visited these places in person, we were more impressed by what we had learned.

As youngsters of this new generation, we should not only indulged in fad and playfulness. We should take more time to better understand the past of Hong Kong so that we can be a 'real' Hong Konger.

At the very beginning, when my teacher recommended me to join the Young Friends of Heritage Scheme, I was quite reluctant as I was not interested in cultural heritage. But when my teacher introduced more information about cultural heritage to me, I decided to take the first step and joined the Scheme. Although I only joined 2 days of training, I found that I have learned a lot which cannot be obtained from textbooks. The 2-day journey was very enjoyable. After the training, I have become more interested in History and cultural heritage. I even have a thought - that is to explore all the precious heritage of Hong Kong!

I was not keen on history and heritage before, but I began to understand the importance of heritage conservation after joining the Young Friends of Heritage Scheme. Heritage is the witness of history. It will be an insult to history if heritage sites and monuments are damaged by mankind. By participating in this Programme, I have visited heritage sites like the Legislative Council Building and the Ping Shan Heritage Trail and was able to have a better understanding on the history and the architectural features of these places. I felt so proud that I can join this yearly training programme.

What I have learned from the Young Friends of Heritage Scheme is far more than those that I have learned in classroom or from books. We walked, we saw and we learned while having site visits. I found that I could absorb knowledge easier in this way. After joining this Scheme, I begin to recognize that heritage and archaeological sites can allow us to better understand history and the development of mankind, and it is our responsibilities to preserve heritage so that our next generation will also have the opportunity to study history. Actually, I treasured the opportunities of visiting historical buildings very much because I could learn more about the buildings from the docents. For instance, last time when we visited Lung Yeuk Hau Heritage Trail, we gained a lot of interesting information from the detailed introduction by the docents. Moreover, this was my first time to visit a walled village, and had close contact with those interesting items like the ancient wall and grey bricks etc.!

"The International Museum Day 2005, Hong Kong" was successfully completed in mid-May this year. My classmate, Lam Kai Ying, and I assisted to maintain order and promote the game on the second day of the event. Actually, most of the participants were well-behaved, and our game was well-received by them! Though it was a bit hot on that day, I was very happy because I saw many citizens were interested in heritage!

In mid-May, my classmate, Hui Yan Wing and I acted as volunteers at AMO's game booth for the "The International Museum Day 2005, Hong Kong" held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

Various museums from Hong Kong, Macau and the Guangdong Province participated the event this time, and all the game booths were set at the open courtyard. Although it was very hot, and we were all covered with sweat, our passion was never lost. My major duty was to explain the rules of the game, "Searching the Monuments", to all participants. Even it was just a simple task, I loved it so much. When I recognized that the participants were playing the game happily, it was really worth putting more effort in doing my job!

Although I only acted as a half-day helper, I did gain something from this experience, and it was my honour to serve the public! I hope that I will do more voluntary services and learn more new things in the near future.

I have not only gained a lot by participating in the YFOH Scheme, but also recognized the importance of heritage conservation after joining the programme. Heritage is just like a documentary, which records the changes and developments in our history, society and daily lives; it also grows with us at different periods. So, it is disappointed to know that some organizations simply demolish and re-build our historical buildings out of commercial reasons! I understand that we have to preserve the surviving monuments, because it is the best way for our next generation to learn more about the history of Hong Kong!

It is really exciting for me to have a chance to participate in the YFOH Scheme which is such a wonderful programme! In fact, we do not have many opportunities to get in touch with heritage in our daily lives, what we usually do is just look at the photos in our text books and listen and learn from the History lessons; or admire artifacts in the museums. It seems that it is impossible for us to have direct contact with heritage! Fortunately, through the "Learning archaeology through rubbing" Workshop, we were able to touch the real finds and learn how to do rubbing, we have even taken some of our rubbing masterpieces back home and keep them as treasures!

Although the training courses provided by the YFOH Scheme only lasted for a few days, the things that I have learnt from it are even more than those that I gain from my classroom and textbooks! Moreover, as some of the courses were carried out in outdoor locations, we could simply learn while we were having sight-seeing!

To me, YFOH is really a wonderful programme. Nowadays, most of the teenagers just love playing TV games at home, they seldom walk around and have no interest in History at all. But after joining this Scheme, I have become more interested in History (especially local history!). Other than joining the History Society in our school, I have also introduced the YFOH Scheme to my friends, hoping that more youngsters can become YFOH and help to convey the message of heritage conservation to the others.