Visitors complain tours show too little of marine police headquarters

Experts have called for more openness over the former marine police headquarters, a commercially run monument site in Tsim Sha Tsui, after its heritage tours failed to satisfy some visitors.

An advertisement by developer Cheung Kong Holdings published last week states that the 125-year-old monument site, now renamed 1881 Heritage, is open for public visits.

It also says two sessions of heritage tours will be organised every day this month before the site officially opens for business in October.

The South China Morning Post joined one of the tours on Friday after concerns were raised over whether the revitalisation project, costing HK$1 billion, offers enough access for the public. Building plans show most features of the monument are inside the headquarters and a stable block, which will be turned into a hotel, shops and restaurants.

Some architects and Antiquities Advisory Board members fear a focus on brand names means it will become a place for privileged people instead of the general public.

Signs at the site say the most open spaces, including the heritage hall where photographs and models of the monument are displayed, will be open from noon to 8pm.