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1. Anger at deterioration of heritage site

1. Anger at deterioration of heritage site
CHLOE LAI , SCMP 8 November 2006

Central and Western councillor Kam Nai-wai (with Stephen Chan) inspect
the condition of the historic Central Police Station complex. Photo: Ricky Chung

Kam Nai-wai inspect the deteriorating condition of the Central Police Station complex.
Photo: Ricky Chung

District councillors voiced bitter complaints yesterday about a continuing failure by the government to keep the historic Central Police Station site in good repair.

Despite maintenance work prompted by an earlier complaint by the Central and Western District Council early this year, a visit to the heritage compound yesterday found loose concrete slabs, peeling paint and exposed reinforcing rods.

Showing the deterioration to the media, the councillors also demanded that any plan on the future of the Victorian-style site be supervised by the Home Affairs Bureau so it would escape the fate of the former Marine Police headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The South China Morning Post reported on Monday that property giant Cheung Kong (Holdings) had removed a hill at the former headquarters - also a heritage site - and transplanted century-old trees into concrete pots.

"We know what has happened to the former Marine Police headquarters," independent councillor Stephen Chan Chit-kwai said during yesterday's visit to the Central site. "We are not going to let history repeat itself here."

Democratic Party district councillor Kam Nai-wai said the condition of the Central site was unacceptable. "It shows they have no respect for historic buildings."

He said the Tourism Commission - which is overseeing development plans for both sites - should hand over the project to the Home Affairs Bureau.

"The commission is under the Economic Development and Labour Bureau, it cares only about money," he said.

Cheung Kong was awarded the Tsim Sha Tsui Marine Police project for 50 years after winning the Tourism Commission's tender in 2003. The headquarters building will become a heritage hotel.

The Central compound consists of the former police station and magistrates court and Victoria Prison. In April 2003, it was earmarked for tourism-related restoration and development, with 17 of the 27 buildings in the complex to be preserved.

But public pressure to conserve the entire compound forced the government to postpone tendering, which was scheduled for 2004.

The commission announced a new round of public consultation but it has not come up with a new tendering timetable.

District councillors demanded explanations yesterday from representatives of the Lands Department, Antiquities and Monuments Office and Architectural Services Department, who joined yesterday's visit, but did not get any.

Ho Wing-yan, from the Antiquities and Monuments Office, said staff visited the site every month to monitor its condition. "Our concern is structural safety," she said.

Architectural Services Department project manager Chan Mei-kuen said the department acted on other departments' requests.

Officials of the Lands Department, which owns the heritage site, did not comment on its role. It took over the site after the police moved out in December 2004 and the Correctional Services Department left early this year.

Blame game
Architectural Services Department "The place has been under the management of the Lands Department since the police moved out in December 2004. We have not visited it for two years. We are no longer responsible for its maintenance. We provide support if the Lands Department and the Antiquities and Monuments Office ask for assistance"

Antiquities and Monuments Office "Our concern is structural safety. We do not have any plans [for maintenance], but we will monitor the building. The Lands Department is in charge of the site"

Lands Department Refused to comment

Lam Kwok-wing, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors "There is seepage; something must be done to stop it ... It seems the co-ordination between various government departments is not very good"