1 Joint task force to assess value of heritage site
Nishika Patel, The Standard 25 October 2007

A task force comprising both Hong Kong and mainland experts is to be formed to assess the historic value of the defaced King Yin Lei mansion, the development chief said yesterday.

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, in a written reply to questions raised by Democratic Party lawmaker Yeung Sum, also revealed the extent of damage done by demolition works in September to the Chinese-style mansion on Stubbs Road.

She said officials had launched a feasibility study for the restoration of King Yin Lei. A task force comprising local and mainland conservation experts will be formed under the Antiquities and Monuments Office.

The office will consider the results of the study and undertake a comprehensive assessment of King Yin Lei's historical and architectural merits.

It will also consider, with regard to the assessment, whether or not it should recommend to the Antiquities Authority declaration of the building as a monument under section 3(1) of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, she said.

Lam said the owner of King Yin Lei had told officials of his intention to restore the 70-year-old mansion on condition his property rights are protected.

In a separate development, the government added an extra layer of protection for historic buildings, saying government buildings would also have to seek demolition approval from the antiquities office.

The site attracted widespread public concern earlier this year with conservationists accusing the owner of demolishing King Yin Lei piece by piece.

Revealing the current damage to the site, Lam said: "Most of the Chinese roof tiles and ornaments in the interior have been taken down. But the building's structure, layout plan and form remain intact. However, part of the stone railings and balustrades has been removed."

She added: "King Yin Lei's owner has informed the government of his intention to restore the mansion on his own provided no infringement of his legal property rights would be incurred. The owner also welcomes the government or experts to propose and introduce to him restoration plans, hoping the historical appearance of the mansion will be restored as far as possible."

Supporting the protection of the owner's property rights, Yeung said the owner was probably referring to two forms of compensation.

"The government should use some public funding to buy the building or a transfer of plot ratio so that the owner can use this to develop, so his interests are not sacrificed."

Responding to a question about the current heritage assessment of 1,400 buildings of historic value, Lam said she was looking into the possibility of speeding up the process. She said 900 are yet to be graded, adding that the full list of sites could not be revealed as they were in private hands.

New measures compelling government and nongovernment buildings to consult the antiquities office on demolition and development have also been introduced.