6 Hong Kong heritage and historical buildings that dodged demolition, and 6 that did not, since 1997

These 12 sites have dominated Hong Kong’s preservation debate during the last 25 years as old vies with new in a rapidly developing city

PMQ, Tai Kwun and the Central Market are among the lucky survivors, while the Blue House Cluster even won a Unesco award for cultural heritage conservation

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The Blue House Cluster in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, consists of three pre-war Chinese tenements buildings – one blue, one yellow, one orange – that faced demolition before being renovated in the mid-2010s. The project won a Unesco award for cultural heritage preservation in 2017. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 11:15am, 19 Jun 2022

Heritage conservation in Hong Kong involves a delicate balancing act, with government, private project operators and the public often torn between commercial viability and preserving history.

In 2006, this battle amplified following the demolition of the Star Ferry pier and clock tower in Edinburgh Square on the Central waterfront, which triggered a wave of nostalgia and conversations about the need for heritage protection.

Progress has been made. The government launched the “Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme” in 2008, following up with the “Conserving Central” initiative in 2009. Both schemes were about preserving and transforming old buildings into “unique cultural landmarks”.

In 2008, the non-profit Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation was also formed, determined to show that the conservation of cultural heritage doesn’t just build a sense of identity but strengthens bonds between people and places.

People protesting against the demolition of the Star Ferry pier in Central, Hong Kong, hang banners outside the construction site. Photo: David Wong

Social media is also helping with conservation efforts.

In 2020, a century-old reservoir comprising massive stone and brick arches was discovered in Shek Kip Mei in Kowloon. When people learned it was earmarked for demolition, social media went into overdrive, forcing authorities to stop work on the structure and issue an apology for “insensitivity and miscommunication”, and pledge to look into preserving the site.