Hong Kong conservationists unearth lost history of ‘protected woman’ in their fight to preserve Cochrane Street ruins
Activists hope the story of Ng Akew will help save the 19th century tenement housing remains from plans to redevelop the site as public open space
The ruins of a tenement house in Central at the centre of a heritage row has been revealed as the home of the leader of Hong Kong’s “protected women”.
The city’s “protected women” were in relationships with foreign men who usually provided them with financial support. They were therefore considered to be under the “protection” of these men and issued certificates of proof of their status.
Research conducted by the Central and Western Concern Group has found that one of a row of tenement houses sandwiched between Cochrane Street and Gutzlaff Street belonged to Ng Akew, a Chinese Tanka woman who was considered the leader and spokeswoman for “protected women” in the mid-1800s.
The details have been uncovered as part of a campaign by the group to have the heritage value of the stone ruins, visible from the Mid-Levels escalator just before Wellington Street, recognised by the Antiquities Advisory Board.
In March, the Antiquities and Monuments Office made a presentation to the board about the ruins, ultimately concluding that the site did not have heritage value so the site did not receive a historical grading.
A grading of one would give the government site, currently slated for redevelopment as public open space, some protection from demolition.