News Stories:

Click-on these handy "jump links" to quickly access the news item
you're looking for.

1.Planning review vital, say architects

1. Planning review vital, say architects
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 22 January 2007

Planning and building regulations need to be thoroughly reviewed if the city's heritage is to be conserved, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects said.

The government should consider various incentives to ease the development pressure facing important heritage buildings, such as the Wan Chai Market, it said. These would include offering developers alternative sites, and compensation and tax exemptions for owners to maintain historic buildings.

It described the planning process as "infrastructure engineering-led", which meant roads, railways, tunnels and flyovers often dictated the shape and layout of the city.

"An advanced city like Hong Kong should ensure its planning strategies fully integrate infrastructure requirements with its great natural assets like the harbour, environment, traditional urban fabric, major public open spaces, as well as cultural and built heritage," it said in a statement in response to the government's conservation policy unveiled this month.

Sensitive areas must be identified at early planning stages so infrastructure could be carefully designed to avoid the need to demolish landmarks like the Central Star Ferry pier.

It named City Hall, Statue Square and Queen's Pier, as well as Government Hill, as zones with particular architectural and planning heritage qualities.

As to finding new uses for preserved sites, the institute said the government must encourage this by reviewing building regulations.

It warned sites could face demolition because of a failure to meet modern building standards.