New heritage rules to plug loopholes and protect sites

A new system to protect Hong Kong's heritage sites and buildings is being formulated and may be ready by next year, government officials disclosed yesterday.

Under pressure from Central and Western District Council members, heritage protection officials admitted the current system had loopholes and weaknesses that would be addressed.

The new system will involve a comprehensive survey of all possible historical sites and buildings across Hong Kong, land exchanges for property owners, and subsidised maintenance and repairs.

Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Tony Ma Kai-loong and Home Affairs Bureau chief curator Susanna Siu Kai-kuen made the disclosure at an emergency council meeting to address the planned destruction of Kom Tong Hall in Mid-Levels by its owner, the Mormon Church.

Elements of the proposed changes already exist under the current system, but Ms Siu said officials would take a more proactive approach to reach out to owners, possibly even before there are plans to alter or raze a building. Details of the new system will be disclosed during a public consultation next year.

The officials yesterday came under fire for failing to alert council members about the Kom Tong Hall plan, even though they knew about it as early as July 30.

Central and Western District Council members said they learned of the plan about 10 days ago when scaffolding was erected. The hall was built in 1914 and has been classified as a grade II historical building on a scale of three.