A casual observer walking the streets of Central could be excused for believing that the district was no more than a few decades old. History, he or she would surmise, would be best found elsewhere.
Those going on walking tours reliving the history of Hong Kong find otherwise. Tucked here and there among the skyscrapers for which our city is famed are the relics of bygone years. Somehow these buildings have escaped the demolishers' hammers. Increasingly, though, they are getting more difficult to find.
Without concerted effort from the government, the next piece of our past to disappear without trace could be Central Market. After all, it is no longer being used and the site is far too valuable to leave unoccupied. An auction planned by the government for February is expected to fetch at least $5 billion.
But, as we report today, a campaign has been launched in a bid to save the building, one of the last examples of the Bauhaus style of architecture in Hong Kong. This is the latest in a series of recent disputes in which the community - or a section of it - has battled to save notable examples of our physical heritage.
The trend shows that Hong Kong people are, belatedly, becoming more concerned about preserving remnants of our city's past. But it also raises the question of how best to protect Hong Kong's heritage, and to strike the right balance between preservation and development.
Insufficient protection is provided under the existing system. Whether a building is knocked down or remains intact often seems to depend on the level of public support for keeping it. A better way should be found.
