1 Blueprint exposes delays on heritage
Plan to save old sites ignored for 8 years Olga Wong, SCMP 10 September 2007

A blueprint for a heritage conservation policy was drafted and endorsed by a government advisory body eight years ago, a government document has revealed. But it was largely ignored and historic buildings have since been demolished.

In another sign of government foot-dragging, a public consultation launched earlier this year repeated questions originally put forward three years ago.

A policy document, prepared and endorsed by the Antiquities and Advisory Board in 1999, recommended measures to revamp the conservation system, including financial incentives to encourage landowners to protect historic properties.

It called for more power for the Antiquities and Monuments Office, and hastening of the grading process of 8,000 pre-1950s buildings.

The document was written against the backdrop of the 1999 policy address, in which former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa called for a review of heritage policy.

It asked the government to look into the compensation involved in heritage protection. Among the recommendations were a set of incentive schemes, such as bonuses and transfer of development rights, extended leases, land premium exemption and tax incentives.

The government was also asked to explore the feasibility of a development levy to ensure a steady funding source for heritage preservation. And it advised that appropriate use be found for historic buildings that were lying empty.

Suggestions in the document were further reinforced by a policy recommendation report submitted by the Culture and Heritage Commission in 2003, which was headed by Chang Hsin-kang, former president of City University.

The commission said the government should consider establishing a heritage conservation board, directly headed by the Home Affairs Bureau, to take on wider responsibilities.

It urged the government to encourage private owners to protect heritage, adding that the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust Fund covered mainly promotion and education.

In response to the recommendations, a consultation was launched in 2004 in which the public was asked what to conserve, how to conserve it, how much should be paid and who should pay. Those questions were put to the public again this year.

Desmond Hui Cheuk-kuen, a former member of the Antiquities Advisory Board, said: "It was disappointing, it is unnecessary for the government to step back to square one."

He said some historic buildings had been demolished during the eight years of consultation.

"Only 607 buildings have been graded, and 54 of them have been demolished since 1980. Unlike monuments, historic buildings are not legally protected from development."

A government spokeswoman said the future set-up of the Antiquities and Monuments Office would be examined in the context of the review of heritage conservation policy, adding that the government would formulate a host of improvement measures for further public consultation by the end of the year.

Torn down

Five Grade I historic buildings have been demolished since 1980:

Former HSBC headquarters in Central (1935-1978)
General Post Office in Central (1911-1976)
Former Hong Kong Club in Central (1897-1984)
Former government office for Marine Department in Sheung Wan (1920s-1970s)
St Joseph's Home for the Aged at Clear Water Bay Road, Ngau Chi Wan (1920 and was redeveloped)

Source: Antiquities and Monuments Office

Eight years on, and back to the beginning

October 1999 Tung Chee-hwa policy address announces plans to review heritage policy; Antiquities Advisory Board draws up specific measures for heritage conservation
March 2003 Culture and Heritage Commission submits policy recommendation report, urging government to reform heritage conservation system
February 2004 Government starts public consultation, with questions such as what to conserve; specific measures to be released for consultation at stage two – which never happens
March 2005 Board starts to grade 1,400 out of 8,800 of pre-1950 buildings
December 2006 Star Ferry pier is demolished
January 2007 Public forums organised to gauge public opinion again on what to conserve and how to conserve; government promises specific measures by end of the year
May 2007 Legco approves funding to dismantle Queen's Pier