Letters | Keep Hong Kong story alive by preserving historical sites

I am writing in response to your September 12 editorial, “Striking a balance between urban renewal and preservation”, which welcomed developers’ decision to preserve the 68-year-old State Theatre building in North Point for its historical value in a multibillion-dollar project.

It is common for young people to have a poor understanding of the history of our city, so it is welcome news that the redevelopment of the State Theatre can preserve the historical value of the building. Converting historical buildings into museums or other sites for public use allows people to understand Hong Kong’s history while admiring what has been left behind, which can enhance our sense of belonging to the city.

As people are forgetting the political history of Hong Kong – such as separation of powers, a high degree of autonomy and “one country, two systems” as mentioned in the Sino-British Joint Declaration – it is important to keep some reminders for Hong Kong people to recall their history and spot the changes from the old Hong Kong to the new Hong Kong.

Recent events prove that Hong Kong people are forgetting their own history. It saddens me that Hong Kong has undergone vast changes that have led people to forget the old days. I hope that preservation of historical buildings is able to help keep the collective memory of Hong Kong citizens alive, and people will defend against officials trying to change Hong Kong history by deleting content from students’ textbooks.