The head of the Antiquities Advisory Board, who cast a deciding vote on the heritage rating of a former government building that is slated for demolition, says the decision has yet to be confirmed.
'This is not final,' said board chairman Bernard Chan, who voted for a grade two rating for the west wing of the former government headquarters when the voting was tied between grades one and two.
'We've discussed the direction and we will hold a public consultation on the grading,' Chan said yesterday. 'After the consultation, we will have a meeting to confirm the grading.' Holding a public consultation on a grading is unusual.
Before Chan's decision on Thursday, eight members had opted for grade one - the highest of three grades - while eight wanted grade two and three voted for grade three.
A grade-two building is not generally safe from demolition; only declared monuments have that.
On Thursday, the Development Bureau said demolition of the west wing would proceed and a 26-floor office tower for NGOs and a 7,600 square metre public leisure area would be built on the site.
Chan backed the plan but said the new building should retain some of the style of the 1959 west wing. 'It isn't necessary for the building to be completely new,' he said.