No buildings are sacred for this government

The protest over the demolition of the Star Ferry is one of those rare events in history after which 'things can never be the same again'. It has amused me to see how many of our politicians and parties have so quickly appreciated this and sought to make political capital out of this popular groundswell.

Earlier this year, Christine Loh Kung-wai, Paul Zimmerman, Peter Wong King-keung and I fought against the government's plans for Tamar and the Central Reclamation. We pointed out to our legislators that a direct consequence of moving the government headquarters to Tamar would be the eventual sale and redevelopment of the present Central Government Offices site on Lower Albert Road. Despite this, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen got the support he needed for his new offices at Tamar.

But if those legislators who supported him thought the protest over the Star Ferry was energetic, just wait and see how the community responds when it realises that the Lower Albert Road site will go the same way.

As in the case of Star Ferry, the buildings themselves are undistinguished, but the level of sentimental attachment is high. The site is part of a core area that includes St John's Cathedral, the Court of Final Appeal and the chief executive's residence. It is a green corridor full of old paths, old trees and historic buildings. It should be untouchable. But for this government, nothing is sacred.

In 'Our inheritance through heritage', (December 30) David Tang Wing-cheung decries the lack of culture of our oligarchs. Let me offer another perspective. Throughout history, wealthy and powerful cities have sought to build monuments to posterity. Leading citizens vied to build houses and palaces to outdo each other in beauty and refinement - to show that they were cultured as well as wealthy.

Cities took great pride in their civic and religious buildings, fountains, statues, and other monuments, and spent much time and many resources on them.

Hong Kong is one of the richest cities the world has known. Our oligarchs are some of the wealthiest in the world. What civic buildings can we point to with pride?