The effectiveness
of grading.
Grade 3 historical building is building of some merit, so it would be desirable to preserve them in some form. [2] For the Former Police Married Quarter, its value lies in its connection with the former Central School. Some features of Central School had been preserved, for instance the walls with trees along Shing Wong Street and Hollywood Road, granite plinths, pillars of the fenced walls etc. [3] Therefore, Police Married Quarter was accorded as the Grade 3 Historic Building and developed into PMQ. While not all graded historical buildings can be preserved under the circumstances of Hong Kong, even though a grade 1 historical building, therefore Police Married Quarter is comparatively fortune than many other graded buildings.
Unlike the declared monument, the grading system is not established
under any legislation. It means that graded buildings are not protected from alteration
and demolition. In Hong Kong, economic development is overemphasized, while heritage
conservation is deemphasized. Hong Kong has limited land for
[4]
development,therefore there is strong market pressure for neither government nor private sector to pursue economic benefit, rather than heritage conservation. Queen’s Pier and Ho Tung Gardens are probably the best examples to illustrate this point. This situation is even worse when most of the graded historical buildings are owned by private owners. Without public pressure, private owners will have less concern towards the redevelopment of historical buildings. There was nothing the government could do if a non-government-owned historical buildings was decided to be demolished by its owner. Even though government has been adopting measures like economic incentive to protect graded buildings, sometimes it did not work. According to the latest data on March 2014, eighteen graded or proposed graded historic buildings were demolished. [5] While other eight graded buildings were also largely altered, leading to the deterioration of its value. [6]
Lack of proper management of government to the graded historical buildings even worsened the problem. About ten graded historical buildings had not been allotted to any government bureau or departments at the end of February 2013. [7] In addition, five more graded buildings had been left unused for six to twenty months. [8] While lacking maintenance will properly lead to deterioration and degradation of its value. A grading system with no related management will mean nothing.
Concerning the revamp of Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance to provide a better protection to graded buildings in 2007, the Development Bureau said no to the suggestion. [9] It is because they believed that this suggestion provided no benefit to early success in heritage conservation work as it would be a protracted practice. Another suggestion of revamping of Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance was made in 2013 Policy Address. As mentioned in the Policy Address, a review on the conservation of privately-owned historic buildings is needed in order to determine whether there is a need to enhance conservation of graded buildings. While this is still under progress.
Under the current measures towards graded historical building, they are subject to any changes and demolition under the pursue of economic development. Economic development is valued by the government, therefore heritage conservation seems to be less vital comparatively. Even the future of PMQ is uncertain under this situation. If PMQ does not satisfy the need of the government, it will also be threatened.
[1]- [2] Antiquities and Monuments Office (2004) Assessment of 1444 Historic Buildings Last assessed 1 December 2014 at http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/built2.php
[3]Antiquities and Monuments Office (2004) Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters 2007 Site Investigation Report Last assessed 1 December 2014 at http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/AAB_Paper131_hollywood_content_e.pdf
[4]Audit Commission (2013) Conservation of monuments and historic buildings Last assessed 30 November 2014 at http://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e60ch01.pdf
[5] - [6] Antiquties Advisory Board (2014) Respecting our heritage while looking ahead Policy on Conservation of built heritage Consultation paper December 2014 at http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/government/publication/consultation/docs/2014/CBH.pdf
[7] - [9] Audit Commission (2013) Conservation of monuments and historic buildings Last assessed 30 November 2014 at http://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e60ch01.pdf
[4]
development,therefore there is strong market pressure for neither government nor private sector to pursue economic benefit, rather than heritage conservation. Queen’s Pier and Ho Tung Gardens are probably the best examples to illustrate this point. This situation is even worse when most of the graded historical buildings are owned by private owners. Without public pressure, private owners will have less concern towards the redevelopment of historical buildings. There was nothing the government could do if a non-government-owned historical buildings was decided to be demolished by its owner. Even though government has been adopting measures like economic incentive to protect graded buildings, sometimes it did not work. According to the latest data on March 2014, eighteen graded or proposed graded historic buildings were demolished. [5] While other eight graded buildings were also largely altered, leading to the deterioration of its value. [6]
Lack of proper management of government to the graded historical buildings even worsened the problem. About ten graded historical buildings had not been allotted to any government bureau or departments at the end of February 2013. [7] In addition, five more graded buildings had been left unused for six to twenty months. [8] While lacking maintenance will properly lead to deterioration and degradation of its value. A grading system with no related management will mean nothing.
Concerning the revamp of Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance to provide a better protection to graded buildings in 2007, the Development Bureau said no to the suggestion. [9] It is because they believed that this suggestion provided no benefit to early success in heritage conservation work as it would be a protracted practice. Another suggestion of revamping of Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance was made in 2013 Policy Address. As mentioned in the Policy Address, a review on the conservation of privately-owned historic buildings is needed in order to determine whether there is a need to enhance conservation of graded buildings. While this is still under progress.
Under the current measures towards graded historical building, they are subject to any changes and demolition under the pursue of economic development. Economic development is valued by the government, therefore heritage conservation seems to be less vital comparatively. Even the future of PMQ is uncertain under this situation. If PMQ does not satisfy the need of the government, it will also be threatened.
[1]- [2] Antiquities and Monuments Office (2004) Assessment of 1444 Historic Buildings Last assessed 1 December 2014 at http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/built2.php
[3]Antiquities and Monuments Office (2004) Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters 2007 Site Investigation Report Last assessed 1 December 2014 at http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/AAB_Paper131_hollywood_content_e.pdf
[4]Audit Commission (2013) Conservation of monuments and historic buildings Last assessed 30 November 2014 at http://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e60ch01.pdf
[5] - [6] Antiquties Advisory Board (2014) Respecting our heritage while looking ahead Policy on Conservation of built heritage Consultation paper December 2014 at http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/government/publication/consultation/docs/2014/CBH.pdf
[7] - [9] Audit Commission (2013) Conservation of monuments and historic buildings Last assessed 30 November 2014 at http://www.aud.gov.hk/pdf_e/e60ch01.pdf