Old building should be saved for community use
- Plans to demolish a rare pre-war Chinese tenement reflect Hong Kong’s lack of protection for graded historic structures, and the government would be wise to turn it into a welfare centre
To say that Hong Kong’s heritage conservation policy is little more than window dressing is not an overstatement. Even though there exists a grading system of some sort to enhance protection, the 1,400 or so “historic buildings” can still be bulldozed if their owners so wish. A rare pre-war Chinese tenement block is yet another sad example of our precious heritage falling victim to the city’s insatiable appetite for new development and a half-hearted conservation mechanism.
More ironically, some government heritage advisers are convinced that a higher grade is unwarranted, referring to its condition being inferior to those of Lui Seng Chun, a grade one conservation showpiece in the neighbourhood. They are probably right from an expert’s perspective, but the decision to keep the lower grade in spite of demolition may be misunderstood as acquiescence. Indeed, the building may not be spared the wrecker’s ball even with a grade one assessment, as only declared monuments are protected under the existing mechanism.
Even though officials are trying to liaise with the owner for conservation options, the prospects do not look good. Failure to preserve a Wan Chai pawnshop in the same style four years ago is a sad reminder of the inadequacies of the current policy. It has been suggested the building could be saved by buying and converting it into community facilities, as part of the government’s HK$20 billion budget plan to acquire 60 private properties for use as welfare centres. The proposal should be considered.