Historic police station may be preserved
The historic Yau Ma Tei police station may be saved in its entirety as the government explores alternatives for the construction of the Central Kowloon Route, sources have said.
They also said the authorities were considering if the nearby Jade Market, which would be affected by the plan, could be relocated back to the Temple Street area after the road was completed.
Robert Chan Cheuk-ming, a senior government engineer responsible for the project, said they were only studying the possibilities of keeping the police station intact. He said a preferred route was expected to be unveiled in May.
The Central Kowloon Route is intended to link the West Kowloon Reclamation area and the future Kai Tak development. The original Highways Department plan was to have the road run through the staff quarters of the 85-year-old police station.
But the idea was rejected by the public works subcommittee of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee last December.
The government's intention to keep the police station was welcomed by legislators and district councillors yesterday. But they were divided over whether the police should remain in the Edwardian-style building, constructed in 1922.
Legislator Kwok Ka-ki said it was good that the whole police station would stay untouched.
He said the place should be used for other purposes if the police there decided to move to the Kowloon West Regional Headquarters.
'The historic building should house community facilities such as a library and clinic since the route construction may require the demolition of the existing library and clinic facilities,' he said.
But Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Ng Po-sham said the police should stay there to keep law and order in the area.
About 70 residents, representatives of concern groups and professionals attended a public consultation forum organised by the Highways Department yesterday.
Two more such forums are due to be held next year.
