The government has been accused of repeating its mistakes in the handling of King Yin Lei mansion by allowing pre-war buildings to be destroyed at Po Lin Monastery.
Members of the Antiquities Advisory Board, which advises the government on the evaluation of old buildings, complained that the government had not consulted them about the demolition. They want to discuss the issue at a board meeting next month.
A spokesman for the Antiquities and Monuments Office, which is responsible for heritage preservation, said the historic value of the structures was assessed before they were demolished. They were of little historic value and similar structures could easily be found in other temples in Hong Kong, it said.
Bernard Lim Wan-fung, a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board, said the government never consulted the board on whether the buildings should be preserved.
'The Antiquities and Monuments Office still lags behind the social pulse. This issue should be widely discussed,' he said.
Another board member, Ng Cho-nam, said the government was not sensitive and proactive enough in preserving cultural heritage.