1 Concern at delays, changes to project on historic site District council, antiquities board kept in dark on progress
Joyce Ng, SCMP 14 April 2009

An overhead view of progress on the site of the historic Victoria Barracks explosives magazine site.  Photo: David Wong   Source: SCMP

In the third of a series investigating the shortcomings of the city's heritage preservation, Joyce Ng checks progress on a historic site controversially granted in 2005 to a private organisation, which has been criticised for delays and a lack of transparency

The community remains in the dark about progress on refurbishing the remnants of Victoria Barracks, a half-year after it was supposed to have opened and about six months before the revised opening date.

Critics say the situation of the former explosives magazine site in Admiralty shows that standard measures are needed to monitor heritage sites handed over to private bodies for long-term use.

The grade-one-listed building was granted without a tender procedure to the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre in 2005 for 21 years to develop a museum, lecture hall and performance venue.

The land lease required it to open in September last year, but the centre won permission to postpone the opening to September this year.

Although work has started, the master layout plan is not yet available for public inspection because it was amended by the society late last year and is awaiting approval by the Lands Department. Even antiquities advisers and the local district council are in the dark.

A department spokeswoman said it would continue to monitor construction progress, and might consider a further extension if work progress was satisfactory. It would not penalise the non-governmental organisation for the delay.

In reply to questions from the Post, the centre's interim executive director, Lo Li-ping, said the delay was due to major design changes.

These included modifications to a footbridge to preserve a green belt and a population of bats, and a decision to place mechanical equipment underground to preserve buildings. Termites and the discovery of four cannons added to the workload.

She said a consultation group would be formed closer to the soft opening in the third or fourth quarter of this year. It would meet the Central and Western district council annually to advise on public participation in activities at the centre.

The government was criticised for lacking transparency when it handed over the 7,800 square metre site - on Justice Drive, near the British consulate - to the society for HK$1,000.

Antiquities Advisory Board member Ng Cho-nam said the board had been told nothing about progress since the site was granted.

"The government has the duty to inform us, and there should be plans to show us how they changed the plan," Dr Ng said.

Members of the Central and Western district council also complain they have not heard details of any changes.

"I wonder why it has not opened and how the building plan has been changed. They need to talk to us," council vice-chairman Stephen Chan Chit-kwai said.

Councillor and lawmaker Kam Nai-wai, of the Democratic Party, said the government, when granting heritage sites for more than 10 years, should require annual financial and conservation reports, and a management committee, to ensure projects were properly monitored.

Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said the government should lay down all conditions in the lease, including an enforcement procedure for delays.

Public heritage sites allocated on a long-term basis or due to be allocated soon include Haw Par Mansion for a wine business; the King Yin Lei mansion in Stubbs Road for a commercial venture; the former police married quarters on Hollywood Road for creative industries; and the Central Police Station compound, already handed over to the Jockey Club.

The Asia Society was founded in the United States in 1956 to bridge American and Asian culture. It has extensive international connections with political and business figures, with Hang Lung Group chairman Ronnie Chan Chi-chung as vice-chairman of its board.

What the public can expect

The Asia Society's land lease for the former explosives magazine requires that it open all non-office areas to the public.

The public will be able to visit the museum and attend exhibitions and programmes at the centre, and be charged admission fees similar to public arts venues. Guided tours of some buildings will be arranged.

Nine hours a week will be given to schools, youth and welfare groups to use the buildings for arts purposes.

The three grade one blocks, which were built between 1853 and 1910 and stored explosives and munitions, and one grade two outpost station are among the few buildings left after the barracks was developed into Hong Kong Park and Pacific Place in the 1980s. The Asia Society has added a two-storey structure.

The society is responsible for the HK$200 million renovation cost, half of which was donated by the Jockey Club Charities Trust.

 

2 Blocks' height cut to avoid spoiling view of Lion Rock from Kai Tak
Celine Sun, SCMP 14 April 2009

The height of two planned public housing blocks in Wong Tai Sin is to be slashed to avoid spoiling the view of Lion Rock from the Kai Tak redevelopment and Hong Kong Island.

Planned at 48 floors, the two blocks of Tung Tau Estate phase nine will be reduced by as much as 41 metres, and built with a stepped effect ranging from 29 to 34 floors for one and 35 to 38 for the other.

At the highest point, the Housing Department project between Prince Edward Road East and Lok Sin Road is to be cut from 153 to 112 metres.

Chief structural engineer Chan Siu-tack said the change would offer a better view of the landmark.

"With the lowered estate buildings midway, people will be able to enjoy the beautiful silhouette of the mountain in full from any point of the Kai Tak view corridor," he said.

The government this year mapped out a three-stage development plan for the 320-hectare area in Kai Tak, which includes housing and commercial towers, a sports stadium, a cruise terminal, a park and a view corridor.

The Tung Tau Estate project, with a cost of HK$661 million, will comprise 1,333 flats, each ranging from 150 sq ft to 420 sq ft.

The blocks will be connected on the ground floors, which will be 6 metres high to allow for more sunlight and wind to enter.

A community complex centre will also be built next to the blocks, providing an auditorium, dressing and meeting rooms, and other facilities.

As there are five primary and secondary schools close to the construction site, Mr Chan said, the department had taken measures to reduce noise, such as erecting high panels around the site and inviting noise-proofing experts to offer advice.