I'm currently working on my PhD, which is examining British attitudes to British colonial architecture in the former Empire. This of course includes the wonderful Hong Kong!
I know many in HK have battled to preserve this heritage (Queens Pier etc) and I know there have also been controversial 'renovations' of some old structures.
What I am trying to discover is:
What restorations (completed, undergoing or planned) have been made recently in HK?
Was there any public involvement in these projects (ie. protests, campaigning, fundraising)?
Have the British assisted in these projects in any way (campaigning, funds, specialists, etc)? And,
Who do the people of HK think should ultimately be responsible for this heritage (British, HKers, China, mix, none)?
2. This was a private redevelopment with government approval. Not much protest beforehand although some criticism afterwards about the tree preservation, large amount of excavation, and high-end nature of the outcome.
3. No British help.
4. The current government should lead the way to preserve our history.
I was hoping you'd share your thoughts HKSkyline, you really seem to be the heart of all HK-based discussion in the forum and I appreciate your input!
You might be able to help me actually - do you recall whether there was any public British opinion about the Star Ferry or Queen's Pier demolitions?
I seem to remember reading somewhere that even a request made by the Queen (may have been another royal member) or the High Commission to save the structure had fallen on deaf ears?
I'm also wondering whether it would be viewed as hypocritical if the British started pushing for restoration of colonial-era construction now, given that during their time governing HK they actually oversaw some terrible demolitions themselves...
1. Completed
2. Heard nothing about protest or opposition. It's a land transfer from private to the Government, and now leased (maybe granted, not sure) to the HK Academy for Performing Arts, a tertiary institution in HK established by the Government.
3. No British help.
4. The Government, and the public.
In the case of HK, I think anything within the last ten or so years?
I don't want to go back into the period when the British were governing, because it sort of defeats the purpose of my research... although it is interesting to note the Brits didn't have the best track record when it came to preserving their own heritage in HK!
1. Completed since the late 90s. It was a local police station, and now converted and leased to a Wellcome supermarket, a private company in HK.
2. No excessive objection that I have heard, but some do say it shouldn't be leased out.
3. No direct funding from the British.
Murray House
Formerly a British's military barrack in Central, dissembled in early 1980s to give way for business development in the area, where it is now the Bank of China.
Relocated and assembled back in the early 2000s in Stanley, now owned by the Government, managed by the Link, a Government owned property management company. It has a (soon to be relocated) museum on the ground level, and a few restaurants on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
1. Completed, ongoing renovation with new lease.
2. Can't tell, it has been so long since taken down, but probably didn't. Don't recall objection about putting it back up.
3. It was certainly the British's idea to save the building, and resemble it later in the future.
Currently the Legislative Council Building, formerly the High Court Building of Hong Kong, it will soon turn into the Final Court of Appeal of Hong Kong,
Don't think the British had anything to do with any recent architectural preservation after handover. In any case, why fund the preservation of, say, a 30s British-style building in HK when they could use that money to preserve what's in the UK?
It's up to HKers to voice their desire to preserve historic items. In the colonial days, this desire did not exist as the society had not matured economically (the middle class had not developed). In other words, people were too focused on food and survival to care about history.
Today, the movement is stronger than ever before, but I don't think Britain would have anything to do with preservation efforts--preservation policies are enacted by government, and UK does not currently have any jurisdiction. Because HK governs itself internally, I think almost all of the responsibility and interest lie within its residents and government, and not any party external to HK itself.
There's a website in Chinese with photos and descriptions of historic buildings, including those from the British colonial era. Unfortunately, there's no English version, but at least there are some photos of more unique buildings :
wow its amazing and beautiful structure i hope one day i could step righ their
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