FOSHAN: A labor contract in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) explicitly mentioned in writing that the employer should make sure every meal for workers has salt, which was very expensive during the time. The deal was signed between a employers' association and a workers' union in Foshan.

The contract has immense historic and cultural value and bears a testimony to the kind of relationship that existed between the employers and employees hundreds of years ago.

The contract is just one of the numerous historic relics that Foshan boasts. The city has more than 5,000 years of history and is considered an industrial city in China now.

However, a number of historic and cultural documents, relics and buildings are facing extinction, as the city plans to renovate its old city district to give shape to modern Foshan.

Except 22 government-designated cultural units, buildings including old city walls, temples and family courts may be removed gradually, giving the way to a modern commercial and residential complex.

"When the old buildings have gone, we are afraid a set of old lifestyle, customs, cultures and heritages will also disappear," said Liang Guocheng, vice-director of Foshan Civil Cultural Preservation Office.

However, a group of 30 volunteers have been mobilized to preserve the life of old Foshan using cameras and recorders.

Explaining that he would like to record the life of old Foshan, Yao Yuan, a volunteer said: "We hope a complete record of old life in Foshan could be preserved for posterity."

Other than taking photos, they will also interview elderly citizens living in the district.

"It will be difficult to find these citizens as they would move to different parts of Foshan when the re-construction begins," Yao said.

The volunteers will also record the anecdotes told by these old people and come to know about the life decades ago.

(HK Edition 09/19/2007 page6)