A prominent Hong Kong family has won approval from the Buildings Department to redevelop a pair of historic Chinese-style buildings in Mid-Levels.
The company Wonderful Path, owned by former stock exchange chairman Ronald Li Fook-shiu and his family, plans to build a 25-storey apartment block with recreational facilities on the site - 6 and 8 Kennedy Road.
The buildings were given a grade-two historical rating, which does not prevent demolition, last year.
But heritage officials have persuaded the owners to agree to preserve important features such as the facade.
'[We] have followed up with the owner on preservation options and obtained the owner's agreement to preserve all character-defining elements of the building in the new design of the development,' the Commissioner for Heritage's Office said.
'We consider this an appropriate balance between heritage conservation and respect for private property rights.'
The development comes a year after the Antiquities Advisory Board rejected a request from the owners to downgrade the rating of the four- storey blocks from two to three.