The Jockey Club has invited a renowned local architect to work with his Swiss counterparts on a new design for an additional structure at the Central Police Station compound.
But the move, which follows public rejection of a previous design, has drawn criticism because there are no plans for a fresh public consultation.
Architect Rocco Yim Sen-kee, who designed the future government headquarters at Tamar and the Peninsula Hotel's extension, said yesterday he would not be designing the project, but would advise the designers on local perspectives of urban and social culture and community sensitivity about the new building.
'I very much believe that the historic sites need new elements to bring vitality and synergy,' Mr Yim said, adding that he was open about the management of prison hall F, which the club did not rule out of demolition plans despite conservationists' call for its retention.
He said it would affect design flexibility if there was a height restriction on the historic site, which 13 NGOs proposed to town planners last month, but he stressed that he would communicate such concerns to his teammates.
The club's executive director for charities, William Yiu Yan-pui, said the project's design architect, Herzog and de Meuron, was 'cognisant of local culture, but after the public consultation they were specially aware of the project's importance to Hong Kong'. A conservation architect from Britain was also on the team.
'They are quite concerned about the society's acceptance of their outcome,' Mr Yiu said.