The conservation of historic sites and redevelopment of old districts in Hong Kong have caused controversy, but it is by no means unique to the government. In Beijing, the demolition of the Dongsibatiao hutong hit the front pages of newspapers last week. The municipal government, eager to polish the city's image ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, was severely criticised by conservationists and residents.
The issue of conservation amid urban renewal is a new test for old bureaucracy. In Hong Kong or in Beijing, the nature of the challenge is the same. In the capital, 40 per cent of the 3,679 hutongs, or alleys, and two thirds of siheyuan, or traditional courtyard residences, have disappeared since the 1980s. For many Beijing residents, the destruction of old houses and streets ruins a lifestyle, and the neighbourhoods to which people attach great significance. With such sentiment, it is no wonder the standoff emerged between officials and residents.
But the conservation of old districts hinges on issues more complex than a simple trade-off between apartment buildings and courtyard residences. For example, Beijing's hutongs are narrow lanes ranging from 10 metres to only 40cm wide. Hutongs cause huge problems during fires and emergency rescue operations. In an era where responsibility of public safety rests squarely on the government, there are administrative reasons for their demolition.
Courtyard houses, comprising three individual buildings arranged around a square court, were built based on the traditional values of an extended family. But modernisation has reduced the appeal of an extended family living together. In addition, increased social mobility means, in many cases, that sons and daughters live hundreds of kilometres from their parents. Courtyard houses, even though they still have appeal, have lost much of their original purpose and use.
These traditional houses lack sufficient sanitation, such as flushing toilets, and bathrooms. Therein lies the problem of restoration. In fact, the public toilets and baths accompanying old dwellings in Beijing have also vanished. Of course, these difficulties should not obstruct the quest for conservation. They only highlight the changing relationship between society and the state. The demolition of the old, whether it be hutongs, or the Star Ferry Pier, is aimed at modernisation.
Yet, as the role of government increases, so does public expectation. The demand for sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of the people implies that governments have to be flexible, making decisions on a case-by-case basis. The conflict between bureaucratic rigidity and the demand for flexibility in public policy is at the root of many controversies in our society.