'Little Hong Kong', the second world war ammunition bunkers converted into wine cellars at Shouson Hill, was yesterday given a Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of merit.
The former Central Ordnance Munitions Depot, which was converted into Crown Wine Cellars by Crown Worldwide in a project begun in 2001, impressed the Unesco judges with the way it had maintained the site and provided education on the defence of Hong Kong for thousands of local and overseas visitors.
In a ceremony with Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, two Hong Kong Chinese second world war veterans, and Crown Worldwide Group chairman Jim Thompson, Unesco's regional adviser for culture in Asia, Richard Engelhardt, said the Hong Kong business community was not well known for its commitment to heritage. 'I hope by this kind of enthusiastic response there will be more commitment to these kinds of projects.'
Mrs Lam said those like herself who were born in peacetime should not take for granted what those who had fought in the war had done.
Gregory Deeb, of Crown Wine Cellars, who organised the project, said the bunkers were the first second world war military site in Hong Kong to be recognised by Unesco and he hoped this would lead to more heritage conservation of other sites. 'Other than Remembrance Day there is very little done to remember those who fought, gave up their careers and even their lives in the defence of Hong Kong,' he said.
Peter Choy, 86 - a member of the management committee of the World War II Veterans Association, who fought in the Royal Artillery before heading to fight in the Chinese army after the surrender of Hong Kong - said he was very pleased by the award, as he remembered going to the bunkers to collect ammunition when he was stationed in Aberdeen.