Planning body calls for conservation zones to protect historic buildings
The Antiquities and Monuments Office should be placed under the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau if comprehensive heritage conservation is to be achieved, according to town planners.
In addition to switching the office from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Institute of Planners suggested introducing a new zoning option of 'heritage conservation zone'.
The group sent its views on heritage conservation to the Home Affairs Bureau last week and called the government's renewed public consultation on the issue 'unfortunate'.
'It is most unfortunate that a complete consultation exercise has to be repeated three years after the previous public consultation on the same subject was launched in early 2004,' it said.
'Having wasted three years without any progress, the urgency of this policy is even more pressing now as more heritage buildings and sites have disappeared.'
Weeks after clashes between conservationists and police over the Star Ferry pier's demolition, Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping re-launched the public consultation in early January.
The consultation will review the operations of the Antiquities Advisory Board and gather views on four proposals: the creation of a new comprehensive assessment mechanism and protection measures; the establishment of trust funds to revitalise heritage buildings; the introduction of economic incentives to encourage private property owners to protect heritage; and the enhancement of education and publicity.
Mr Ho said professional and concern groups pressed for the consultation to be relaunched because of a poor public response in 2004.
The institute supports the establishment of the independent trust fund to rejuvenate heritage buildings, the introduction of a compensation mechanism, either in cash or tax breaks, and a government exchange of heritage sites for nearby land to encourage private property owners to protect heritage.
It also called for a review of the current government structure on heritage conservation to achieve an integrated and holistic approach.
Vice-president Pong Yuen-yee said: 'Heritage conservation and town planning are not isolated events. On the contrary, they have an intricate relationship.'
For that reason, the institute suggested the Antiquities and Monuments Office be put under the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau.
Ms Pong cited the Bauhaus-style Central Market, saying the building alone might not have high conservation value.
'But when viewed together with the Central Police compound, the former Hollywood police married quarters, Government Hill, and the outdoor market in Peel and Graham streets, we see a different picture.'
She said the government could conserve the building for shops and turn it and other nearby historic buildings into a heritage conservation zone.
'The government will enhance Central's environment by conserving historic buildings, which will make land in Central more valuable. Pulling down the building for auction only gives a short-term benefit.'
