Heritage grading of colonial-era landmarks may stall golf club housing plans
Two colonial-era landmarks in Fanling are recognised as historic by antiquities advisers after development chief hints they could go
The chief executive's Fanling Lodge and the clubhouse at the Hong Kong Golf Club - both touted as possible sites for housing - are set to receive heritage gradings that could make redevelopment more difficult.
Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po said in July last year that the two colonial-era landmarks in Fanling may have to go as the government struggled to find sites for over 400,000 homes in the next decade.
But the Antiquities Advisory Board yesterday unanimously agreed to support giving the lodge the highest heritage rating, grade one, and a grade-two rating for the clubhouse. The rating is subject to a two-month public consultation before the board makes a final decision.
Graded historic buildings are not protected by law. But a grade-one declaration is the final step before a site is declared a historic monument.
Speaking after the meeting, board chairman Andrew Lam Siu-lo said the gradings were not related to any specific development proposal.
"Development projects are decided by the Development Bureau," he said. "The board's role was to assess the historic value of the buildings and to give them gradings accordingly. We certainly hope any development plan will respect the historic value of heritage buildings."
Asked if the board's recognition of the historic value of the two buildings would hinder development plans, he said: "I cannot assess any impact as there is no development plan now."