Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1081012/two-proposals-shortlist-bridges-street-market-project
Hong Kong

Two proposals on shortlist for Bridges Street Market project

The Bridges Street Market building in Sheung Wan could become a news museum or a crafts workshop, sources say. Photo: Edward Wong

A disused Bauhaus market building in Sheung Wan will soon be transformed into either a news museum or a crafts workshop, based on the two proposals that have been shortlisted for a revitalisation project, according to sources close to the project.

The 59-year-old Bridges Street Market is one of the most sought-after government-owned historic buildings put forward for reuse. It attracted 15 proposals from non-profit organisations bidding to revitalise the building.

People close to the project said yesterday the Development Bureau's heritage committee had shortlisted two proposals: one from the Journalism Education Foundation and the other from a team of artists and designers seeking to promote the city's heritage and crafts work for children.

The Journalism Education Foundation calls its project the "Hong Kong News Expo". It wants the centre to tell the city's story through the contributions of its news media, underlining the freedom of the press.

The foundation was set up in 2006 by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong News Executives' Association.

Historic events that had an impact on the city would be portrayed using reports from various newspapers. Events include the June 4, 1989, military crackdown in Tiananmen Square and the 1997 handover of the city's sovereignty from Britain to China.

"It is not to present a particular point of view, but the diversity of perspectives reflected by papers with different political views," the source said.

Admission to the exhibitions would be free, and the museum would make itself financially sustainable by holding current affairs seminars for 50,000 students a year, charging each student HK$50 per session.

Many of the city's oldest newspapers were based near the market in their early years, including Tsun Wan Jih Pao, the South China Morning Post and Wah Kiu Yat Po.

The other proposal reportedly shortlisted is backed by a team of artists and designers including Alice Mak Ka-bik and Brian Tse Lap-man, the creators of one of the city's most popular local icons, cartoon pig McMug.

The team wants to use the market as a public space for experiencing heritage and in promoting craft works with children.

The vetting committee is set to announce the results for the project early next year.