Wan Chai Market is among the best known historic buildings in one of the city's oldest districts, yet the government has not determined it important enough to be protected against demolition. Now that the property developers who own the site have suggested they are willing to strike a deal, authorities should seize the chance and prove that their pledge to be working towards making Hong Kong a more livable place is more than mere words.
The deal being hinted at is a land swap under which the market would be preserved in exchange for a similar-sized nearby piece of government-owned land for a proposed commercial and residential complex. A suitable agreement could make the developer happy and retain a local landmark that - although not the most architecturally-striking building - symbolises an era that has all but passed.
Our leaders are fond of talking about sustainable development, and a key element of that is to create an environment to which people want to come, live, work and raise families. Being proud of our past and preserving noteworthy parts of it for the enjoyment of present and future generations is an important part.
The government's planning response has so far been piecemeal. Although the Antiquities and Monuments Office was established 30 years ago, only a small number of buildings and sites have had its legislative safety net thrown over them. This is because of a generally weak preservation policy and authorities having few powers to ensure private owners do not destroy examples of our physical heritage which are worth preserving. As a result, our streets are mostly lined with buildings no more than a few decades old. Only in recent years has there been a wide appreciation of the need to maintain those links. Hong Kong is no longer a transient stepping stone from poverty to wealth elsewhere. We live in a prosperous city with a stable population and have the luxury to plan our future rather than crazily develop to meet the needs of booming growth.
That is why when plans were unveiled in 2002 to demolish Kam Tong Hall in Mid-Levels an outcry erupted for its preservation and the government stepped in. Nostalgia was why tens of thousands of people flocked to the old Star Ferry pier earlier this month. Similarly, it is why conservationists, architects and Wan Chai residents want the market preserved.
The market building is in the functional, but not eye-catching, Bauhaus architectural style and few examples remain in Hong Kong. It has been the centre of the lives of people of the district for more than three generations and that alone is reason to keep it.