Authorities have significantly increased the budget for upgrading the historic Dragon Garden amid the recent controversy over heritage conservation, according to the garden's owner.
Leisure and Cultural Services Department officials are now planning to spend about HK$50 million to give the garden a facelift before opening it to the public, up from the original HK$15 million.
The officials met owner Lee Shiu last week to discuss how to preserve the 8-hectare waterfront site on Castle Peak Road. Mr Lee became sole owner of the garden after buying out family members for HK$100 million following a three-month battle to save it from developers last year.
The garden, built in the late 1950s by his father - late tycoon Lee Iu-cheung - was accorded 'grade two' historic status by the Antiquities Advisory Board in October. The businessman is planning to donate the site to the public.
Mr Lee's wife, Jenny Lee Mui Yee-ching, said both sides were now working out a detailed renovation plan. 'Officials originally said they only had HK$15 million to spend on the garden,' she said. 'We thought this was not enough and my husband even offered to lend the government some money to renovate the garden.
'Then the officials came back and said they had a bigger budget. I think this may have something to do with the Star Ferry controversy. They are very sincere and want to demonstrate to us that they will preserve the garden well.'