LettersHong Kong is no cultural desert: outcry over century-old reservoir was proof

Name: The shop making traditional flower plaque backdrops for Hong Kong celebrations for 66 years
Uploaded: 2021-01-03T00:00:19.000Z
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Description: The shop making traditional flower plaque backdrops for Hong Kong celebrations for 66 years

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Members of the public visit the historic service reservoir in Bishop Hill, Shek Kip Mei, on December 28. Photo: Winson Wong

Letters

Published: 8:00am, 3 Jan 2021Updated: 8:00am, 3 Jan 2021

I am writing in response to your report, “Head of Hong Kong heritage office sorry for ‘insensitivity’ over plan to demolish striking century-old site, but unanswered questions fuel backlash” (December 29).

Hong Kong is often regarded as a cultural desert, a business-oriented city that focuses on economic development but ignores the arts and cultural enrichment. In this case, the events surrounding the near-demolition of a century-old service reservoir of such obvious aesthetic value is just a reflection of the negligence that contributes to Hong Kong’s poor heritage conservation system.

In the view of experts, the historic reservoir with its red brick arches and forest of pillars is of a rare scale in worldwide terms and has extraordinary historical value. Not only is it unique in Hong Kong, but it is also a part of the collective memory of previous generations.

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The shop making traditional flower plaque backdrops for Hong Kong celebrations for 66 years

Therefore, how can we accept the attitude of the Antiquities and Monuments Office towards this century-old reservoir? The department failed to show professionalism in evaluating the importance of the structure and handled the issue carelessly, leading to such a policy mistake.

But think about it in another way: this demolition project was halted immediately because of a public outcry, which indicates the power of the people’s voice and the cultural awareness of the public. Without doubt, despite the government’s attitude of neglect towards cultural conservation, we Hongkongers should persist in protecting our unique heritage and our core culture.

Crystal Xu, Kwai Chung