Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Antiquties and Monuments Office

Learning zone

My View on the Future Development of Lui Seng Chun

Introduction
This report is named as 'My View on the Future Development of Lui Seng Chun' because we hope that this historical building can be arranged for adaptive-reuse in the future.

Historical Background
Lui Seng Chun is a 4-storey "Tong Lau" of the pre-war period located in the midst of tall buildings, standing at the junction of Lai Chi Kok Road and Tong Mei Road. This building was built in c.1931 and was owned by one of the founders of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company Ltd, Mr Lui Leung. In the old days, the ground floor of the building was occupied by a Chinese bone-setting medical shop named 'Lui Seng Chun'; while the upper floors were the residence for members of the Lui's Family. Lui Seng Chun adopted the neo-classical architectural style. The building's deep verandahs and the stone plaque marked with the name of the medical shop installed at the top of the building are typical architectural features found in the local tenements of the pre-war period.

Future Development
Lui Seng Chun represents a typical local Chinese tenement of the pre-war period. It has not only witnessed the history of a well-respected family in Hong Kong, but has also depicted the local history and traditional culture; hence possesses great potential for re-development. In view of this, we suggest to divide the building into several sectors for development. They include a Chinese tea house, a Chinese herbal shop and an exhibition gallery. It is hoped that the building can be preserved in good condition and become a new tourist attraction that helps to enhance tourism in Hong Kong. Our recommendations are as follows:

Ground Floor
We suggest having 2 shops on the ground floor of Lui Seng Chun. One is a Chinese herbal shop cum clinic. The other is a Chinese herbal tea house. In order to re-create nostalgia, the Chinese herbal tea house should follow the typical design of the 50's. Shamshuipo is an old district with a lot of elders living in there who are not accustomed to consult western medical practitioners. Therefore to have a Chinese herbal shop cum clinic at Lui Seng Chun is most appropriate for them.

First to Second Floors
The first and second floors of Lui Seng Chun could be changed into a tea house. The interior decorations should follow those of the 50's for depicting old tea house with local characteristics and style.

Third Floor
Lastly, we suggest to have an exhibition gallery on the third floor. The gallery will be managed by the Government and will have an exhibition on photos and daily necessities of people in the 50's and 70's so as to let visitors understand the living environments at that time.

Information Sources:
http://hk.geocities.com/vivian_artwork/index.htm
http://www.amo.gov.hk/b5/built_reuse1.php
http://www.hkmes.com/ghost/hkfiles/lui/001.htm
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/brandhk/1007007.htm

Yuen Cheuk Kit
Lui Ming Choi Lutheran College

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