More than 400 pre-war buildings which deserve preservation for their historical value remain unprotected, it was revealed last night.
Legislator Lau Ping-chung disclosed the figures - contained in a survey by the Antiquities and Monuments Office - to the Legislative Council as his motion urging the government to devise quickly a comprehensive policy to preserve such heritage sites was endorsed.
Mr Lau said that while only 77 buildings were listed as protected monuments, the survey showed that there were 502 pre-World War II buildings which had historical value and should be protected.
Among these 502 buildings, 117 were listed as having 'important' historical value.
Mr Lau said the discrepancy suggested that the present system of preservation was not working.
Mr Lau cited a case in which the Water Supplies Department built a concrete platform over an historic anti-aircraft position in Wong Nai Chung Gap without the knowledge of the Antiquities and Monuments Office. The office stepped in after the South China Morning Post reported the case this week.
Mr Lau said that current antiquities laws only granted automatic protection to relics dating from before 1800. However, he said many more-recent heritage sites needed protection too.
