Disused court building the latest target for heritage conservation

An abandoned 40-year-old court building was the focus yesterday in the latest row over heritage conservation, with activists protesting against plans to turn it into an education headquarters.

They are demanding that the North Kowloon Court in Sham Shui Po become a museum of judicial history rather than a base for the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.

The Education and Manpower Bureau, however, sees the building in Tai Po Road as ideal for its new purpose. In a proposal to the Sham Shui Po District Council, the bureau said the vacant building is the right place to house the authority, which is split into three separate offices.

But members of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood - which has strong support in the district - plan to promote the museum idea through the council.

'We believe the vacant courthouse should become a museum of the history of the judiciary,' said member Wong Chi-yung. 'What we are proposing fully respects the magistracy's history and it will be accessible to the public.'

The bureau said it would continue to discuss its plans with the council and would work closely with the Antiquities and Monuments Office to ensure minimal changes during renovation. But a spokesman said it was too early to consider public access.