Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Antiquities and Monuments Office

Minutes of Meeting

Board Minutes
AAB/6/2005-06

ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF THE 123^rd MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 24 JANURAY 2006 AT 4:30 P.M.
IN CONFERENCE ROOM, HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTRE
KOWLOON PARK, HAIPHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON

Present:

Mr Edward Ho, SBS, JP (Chairman)
Dr Chan Man-hung, JP
Dr Chan Wai-kwan, JP
Prof Leslie Chen Hung-chi
Mr Patrick Fung Pak-tung, SC
Mr Daniel Heung Cheuk-kei, SBS, JP
Mr Kwong Hoi-ying
Mr Billy Lam Chung-lun, SBS, JP
Prof Peter Lam Yip-keung
The Hon Patrick Lau Sau-shing, SBS, JP
Prof Bernard Lim Wan-fung
Ms Paddy Lui Wai-yu, JP
Mr Ng Yat-cheung, JP
Ir Dr Greg Wong Chak-yan, JP
Ms Lisa Yip Sau-wah
Ms Heidi Kwok (Secretary)
Senior Executive Officer (Antiquities and Monuments)
Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Absent with Apologies:

Mr James Hong Shu-kin
Prof Kwok Siu-tong
Mr Almon Poon Chin-hung, JP
Dr LindaTsui Yee-wan
Miss Sylvia Yau Siu-fee, JP
Prof Yeung Kin-fong

In Attendance:

Home Affairs Bureau

Mr Peter Kwok
Principal Assistant Secretary (Culture)2

Ms Elsa Wong
Chief Executive Officer (Heritage)

Miss Susanna Siu
Chief Curator (Heritage)

Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Mr Chung Ling-hoi, JP
Deputy Director (Culture)

Mr Chan Shing-wai
Acting Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums)

Dr Louis Ng
Executive Secretary (Antiquities and Monuments)

Ms Cissy Ho
Curator (Historical Buildings)

Mr Kevin Sun
Curator (Archaeology)

Mr Richie Lam
Senior Manager (Antiquities and Monuments)

Miss Katherine Chu
Acting Curator (Education and Publicity)

Mrs June Tong
Principal Marketing Coordinator (Heritage and Museums)

Ms Yvonne Chan
Executive Officer I (Antiquities and Monuments)

Planning Department

Mr Anthony Kwan
Assistant Director/Metro and Urban Renewal

Architectural Services Department

Mr S L Lam
Senior Property Services Manager/Eastern and Antiquities

Opening Remarks	Action
The Chairman opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Item 1

Former Police Married Quarters Site at Hollywood Road
(Board Paper AAB/52/2005-06)

2.	The Chairman noted that the subject had been discussed by AAB twice and at the last meeting on 29 November 2005, Members requested for more information on the original boundary walls and an investigation of the historic structures at the site to further assess their heritage values before deciding if they should be preserved.
3.	Mr Billy Lam declared interest in the item as an Honorary Advisor and a member of the Queen's College Old Boys' Association, saying that he had however not taken part in the Association's discussion of the issue.
Presentation Session
4.	With reference to the paper and the recent community concern about the subject site, Dr Louis Ng highlighted the following aspects as detailed in the paper:
	(a)	the historical significance of Central School;
	(b)	the investigation results of the historic structures and the feasibility of restoring the original boundary walls fronting Staunton Street and Aberdeen Street;
	(c)	the proposed provision of community facilities required under the Special Conditions of the Land sale;
	(d)	recent community concern about the preservation of historic structures at the Central School site as expressed in the following documents:
		(i)	letter to relevant bureaux and departments and e-mail to AMO from the Mr Roger Ho Yao-sheng of Mid-levels Concern Group;
		(ii)	recent studies on the Hollywood Road Police Quarters site by Mr Julian TH Kwong;
		(iii)	statement on the cultural and historical significance of the former Queen's College site by Prof Gillian Bickley;
		(iv)	letter to AAB from the Queen's College Old Boys Association; (Note: Items (i) to (iv) above were tabled at the meeting for reference)
		(v)	letter to the Chief Executive from the Central and Western District Council; and
	(e)	the Conservancy Association's earnest request to convey community concern about the issue to the AAB for consideration; and
	(f)	AMO's role to provide all the relevant information for the AAB's deliberation of the issue and it had no intention to undermine the heritage value of the retaining walls as stated in Mr Roger Ho Yao-sheng's e-mail.
Discussion Session
5.	Major views expressed by Members were as follows:
	(a)	since investigation revealed that the authenticity of the retaining walls fronting Staunton Street and Aberdeen Street had been undermined by alterations over the years and could not be restored to their original condition, their heritage value and preservation had to be carefully assessed against the interests of parties concerned, e.g. road widening for pedestrian safety, economic development of the site, etc.;
	(b)	while noting the role of the AAB in heritage preservation, the AAB should adopt a balance approach and consider if preservation of all the retaining walls would affect the livelihood of the community, e.g. traffic safety, refuse collection point and open space provision. As investigations revealed that the retaining walls fronting Staunton Street and Aberdeen Street had been altered on various occasions with little heritage value, the Board should maintain its earlier decision to preserve only the old stone walls and trees along Hollywood Road and Shing Wong Street, which would be sufficient to serve as a landmark of the historical site;
	(c)	the site, being the former site of the Central School and Queen's College, had historical significance in different contexts. Though the retaining walls had been altered over the years due to war and redevelopments, they should and could be preserved for their commemorative value with some innovative design and planning flexibility;
	(d)	despite the alterations, the retaining walls had remained in-situ over the years. As parts of the walls including the granite base of the pillars and the footing, etc. were believed to be authentic, they should be preserved for their overall integrity;
	(e)	the historical significance of Central School/Victoria College in the colonial education was high. Alterations to the walls witnessed exactly the historical changes taken place at the site, i.e. from the Victoria College to the Police Staff Quarters, which formed part of the community's development. From heritage preservation perspective, the retaining walls as well as the two flights of steps linking the two platforms should be preserved. The AAB should give clear indication to Planning Department (Plan D) to preserve them as far as possible if such would not impede the planning intention;
	(f)	the two small landing platforms as well as the pillar base along the retaining walls should be suitably preserved as relics of the Central School to recall collective memories of the past;
	(g)	if the retaining walls fronting Staunton Street and Aberdeen Street could not be wholly preserved, then at least the pillars and the base of the retaining walls should be retained in view of their authenticity. Plan D and Land D could incorporate such requirements in drawing up the planning brief and the special conditions of land sale. This might not necessarily affect the development of the site as with some creative design, the existing pavement could be widened to form the future road whereas the future pavement could be set back inside the existing retaining wall on Staunton Street; and
	(h)	from heritage conservation point of view, the four retaining walls and the lowest platform should be preserved as far as possible. As regards vehicular access to the future development, Trans D and Plan D could advise on the smallest openings necessary at the retaining walls on Hollywood Road and Shing Wong Street for vehicular ingress and egress.
6.	In response to Members' views, Mr Anthony Kwan noted that the Town Planning Board at its meeting of 25 November 2005 did not approve an application to rezone the subject site from 'R(A)' to 'G/IC' for cultural and historical uses but requested Plan D to consult relevant departments and bodies on the development density, planned facilities and cultural heritage of the site and draw up a planning brief to address the applicant's concern about the need to preserve the cultural heritage and historical features of the site. Hence, it was important for the AAB to advise Plan D specifically on what historic features should be preserved on the site. Plan D would then try to take corresponding planning action and consult relevant departments on AAB's advice;
7.	After much deliberation and in view of members' diverse and conflicting views, the AAB concluded that it could not make a decision at the meeting pending further comments and advice from relevant Government Departments. The AAB considered it necessary to strike a balance amongst heritage preservation, social, community and economic developments of the site, while a flexible and innovative approach might be adopted in the planning and design when redeveloping the site. The Chairman asked PlanD to provide an information note setting out the planning parameters and statutory requirements on the future development of the captioned site for the next AAB meeting to be held on 27 March. Departments' views, if any, should also be incorporated as appropriate.
8.	There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Antiquities and Monuments Office
Leisure and Cultural Services Department
March 2006

File Ref.: LCS AM 22/3


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