No architectural value in home of Bruce Lee, say heritage bodies

There is nothing special about Bruce Lee's home and the government will not swap land with the owner to save it, as it did to stop the demolition of King Yin Lei mansion in Mid-Levels, Kowloon City District Council heard yesterday.

'The building is a residence of a simple style without unique architectural elements. Houses like this are very common in the neighbourhood,' the Antiquities and Monuments Office said in an assessment submitted to the council.

It said major alterations and renovations had been made to the interior and exterior of the late kung fu star's Kowloon Tong house - now a love hotel - which had greatly affected its appearance. The verandah, for example, was now sealed by a wall.

'Overall, Bruce Lee's former home is of no value architecturally,' it concluded.

Based on the report, the Office of the Commissioner for Heritage considers there is no 'absolute necessity' to preserve the building as historic architecture. Therefore economic incentives, such as a land exchange, 'are not applicable' to preservation of the Cumberland Road villa.

Heritage officials will leave it to the Town Planning Board to consider whether to allow the owner of the 5,000 sq ft villa, billionaire philanthropist Yu Panglin, to add a 25,000 sq ft museum complex to the site.

Bruce Lee Club chairman Wong Yiu-keung said architectural value should not be the only criterion when looking at the proposal.