Dozens more historic buildings in Macau deserve heritage status to protect them from breakneck urban growth that threatens to destroy the 'old Macau', historians and conservationists say.
The former Portuguese enclave, once in the forefront of cultural exchange between China and the west, is rich with heritage sites. Macau's oldest structures, such as the A-Ma Temple and the St Paul's ruins, acquired UN World Heritage status in 2005, but some 'younger' sites have not been officially recognised, making them vulnerable to urban expansion, heritage experts say.
Macau historian Chan Su-weng has compiled a list of 74 buildings from the 20th century that he considers valuable. Of these, 31 have no heritage status and a further five have been demolished.
'Among Macau's 20th-century heritage sites we can list more than 60 outstanding ones, including temples, churches, markets, schools and theatres,' said Mr Chan, head of the Macau History Association.
'Some of these sites have been graded as heritage for protection, but others must be added to the government's protection list as early as possible.'
The Little Blue House, a 77-year-old mansion in the southern European style on the Macau Peninsula, has not been graded as a heritage site despite repeated calls to recognise it as such.
