St Andrew's to demolish stone wall

One of the last traces of old Nathan Road is set to disappear in a few days when a century-old Protestant church in Kowloon demolishes its landmark stone wall, despite a government counterproposal to preserve it.

The vicar of St Andrew's Church said he had not received any counterproposals in writing and that the church's architects and engineers had advised that preserving the wall was not technically feasible.

Reverend John Menear confirmed construction was underway and the stone wall topped with a balustrade was about to be torn down to make way for a HK$155 million underground development, including an 850-seat auditorium, amphitheatre, coffee shop and book store.

Two members of the Antiquities Advisory Board expressed shock that the construction work had started and the wall, which stands almost three metres high, was about to go. Girders have been erected at the front of the site and foundation work for the auditorium has begun.

The 1906 church, itself a proposed grade one historic site and the oldest church in Kowloon, sits on raised ground, tucked away behind the wall and hidden from the bustle of Nathan Road by a number of banyan and palm trees. By the end of the project, the church will have a glass and granite front opening straight onto the pavement, with barely a third of the wall remaining.

Menear said: 'It is true that construction has commenced after four years of careful planning and preparation.' He said the two-storey development was necessary to cope with a growing congregation that left the 470-seat church fully packed.