It is difficult for many people, including most Hongkongers, to understand the significance and values of Pok Fu Lam village, as it can appear to represent simply a hodge-podge of squatter sheds and shelters. Your columnist Jason Wordie shares this misunderstanding (" Land of make believe ", May 4). The village's negative physical appearance is due to government squatter control policies from the 1970s, which give villagers no incentive to improve their properties. According to the World Monuments Fund, its watch list is "a call to action for cultural heritage around the globe that is at risk from the forces of nature and the impact of social, political and economic change". Pok Fu Lam village is one of the last remaining historical villages on Hong Kong Island and has been placed on the watch list by the fund because it is facing pressure from urban redevelopment plans. It is an organically evolved cultural landscape encompassing a traditional Chinese village grouping of densely packed vernacular residences within a landscape of significant institutions from its colonial era, such as Bethanie sanatorium, Douglas Castle, Pok Fu Lam Reservoir and the remains of the old Dairy Farm. The scale, spatial organisation and physical setting of the village foster and support a closely knit and intimate social community with valuable tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including active village traditions and the well-known fire dragon dance. The village's cultural heritage is under threat by redevelopment of village land, and approved planning documents are already in place. This redevelopment, which will be commercial in nature, is neither necessary nor does it contribute to the housing and economic needs of Hong Kong. It would be a severe loss for the city if Pok Fu Lam village was lost or significantly altered. It is hoped that by bringing attention and awareness of the significance of the village to Hong Kong and the international community, alternative planning approaches may be studied, considered and implemented to guide the village's future development, possibly with reference to the concept of historic urban landscape. This has been promoted by Unesco since 2011, the aim being to develop sustainably a high-quality urban environment through the integration of heritage and development. Nigel Ko and Steven Chui, Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscaping Conservation Group
