Phoenix Lee Ching-kwan, 18 Tin Ka Ping Secondary School Collective memory is not same as historical heritage. Destroying buildings or settlements with historical and architectural value just for economic gain is unacceptable. But it's hard to defend protecting collective memory. There are clear guidelines which explain how a monument can gain protected status. There is no equivalent for memories. Although hundreds of protesters claimed the Star Ferry pier was part of their collective memory, this is a small number compared to the whole population of Hong Kong. Is this really collective memory or just the memory of the minority? If collective memory is to be considered as historical heritage, the entire population would have to see future demolition plans to check if they would interfere with their memories. This would be a huge obstacle for the government's redevelopment scheme. Besides, the reason behind preserving historical heritage is that it's priceless. It is often buildings which can never be rebuilt. Collective memory is not history. We cannot let personal feelings overwhelm us. When it comes to town development, some buildings are doomed to sacrifice. Land in Hong Kong is limited. Sometimes old constructions have to be pulled down. We should be rational about it. Nicholas Wong Hei, 17 Sing Yin Secondary School If we removed old buildings, we would never see anything like them again. They represent the era in which they were built and are a testament to events that happened during that time. People associate buildings and structures with particular events. It might be a personal event, such as meeting someone, or a public event, such as a famous person's visit. This collective memory of a place is passed down through generations. Even if people did not witness a particular event, the fact that they know about it keeps the collective memory alive and adds value to heritage. The value of historical heritage is partly determined by the feelings of people who live around it. A building which is a few years old can be as important to people as one that's thousands of years old. People's feelings and memories add to the value of heritage. We should protect collective memory so that future generations understand the importance of our heritage. Heritage should be treated with respect.
