LettersGive Hong Kong people more say in preserving post-war built heritage

The antiquities board’s call for a citywide assessment of Hong Kong’s modern buildings is welcome

The government should also consider involving more relevant experts, and members of the public, in the exercise

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Conservation experts have named the HSBC headquarters in Central (right) as one post-war building worthy of protection. Photo: Roy Issa

Published: 7:30am, 21 May 2019Updated: 7:30am, 21 May 2019

I refer to the article, “Unprecedented move to protect Hong Kong’s buildings revealed” (May 14). As students concerned about heritage conservation in the city, we welcome the move by the top advisory body for conservation to start, as soon as possible, a territory-wide assessment of buildings erected after the second world war.

Currently, only a few modern buildings have been graded worthy of at least some preservation, for example the Hong Kong City Hall and the Garden bakery headquarters. A citywide assessment would offer slight hope for the future of our modern buildings – endangered species under the rapid development cycle in Hong Kong.

We know that it is already too late for some buildings. Through the years, several valued buildings have been demolished or come under threat, from the Star Ferry pier to the more recent Excelsior Hotel and the AIA headquarters in Wan Chai. We cannot afford to delay the assessment process any longer.

Many modern buildings go unnoticed by the public. Unlike classical buildings with many decorative elements, modern buildings look relatively plain, even dull. However, many of them were in fact designed by architects who shaped and advanced society with their vision. It takes time for the public to be educated and start appreciating the forms and philosophical values of modernist or functionalist architecture.

The government can be held responsible for incentivising this failure to conserve by not properly assessing many worthy buildings. Often, we see that successful preservation efforts, like those to keep the former central government offices intact, can be credited to concern groups that urge the government to change its mind. This is unhealthy.