URA Expands Conservation Strategy for Cantonese Verandah-type Shophouses
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (Monday) an
expansion of its conservation strategy to preserve some 48 pre-war
shophouses of Cantonese verandah-type.
"This is perhaps the most ambitious initiative of the URA to
preserve the heritage of our city," said Mr. Barry Cheung, Chairman
of the URA.
The URA has been preserving and revitalising historical buildings
under its 4R strategy, namely Redevelopment, Revitalization,
Rehabilitation and pReservation.
"We are going to take up the challenge of preserving shophouses
that have witnessed the development of Hong Kong's architectural
and cultural landscape, and we will adopt a strategy that is based
on a voluntary or market approach as far as practicable. Only
if it is absolutely necessary, compulsory acquisition will be
considered," added Mr. Cheung.
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR encouraged the URA to extend its
conservation work to cover pre-war shophouses in his Policy Address
of October last year.
A total of 73 pre-war shophouses of Cantonese verandah style have
been identified within and around URA's action areas. Amongst
them, seven have already been preserved as part of URA's various
development schemes. Another 10 that are listed as Grade 1
historical buildings by the Antiquities Advisory Board will
certainly form part of the preservation initiative.
"Most of the other 56 shophouses of Cantonese verandah-style do not
have historical grading. However, they represent a part of history
in the development of Hong Kong and may carry certain cultural
significance in their respective localities, making it worthwhile
to dedicate appropriate public resources as part of the overall
urban regeneration strategy of the URA," Mr Cheung said.
The URA had commissioned a consultant team, with advice from Mr
Tiong Kian Boon, an experienced Malaysian conservation
architect. The study looked into the need and
feasibility of preserving the 56 shophouses. The study was
supervised by a Steering Committee chaired by Professor David
Lung.
The study categorises the shophouses into four levels, taking into
consideration their historical value, architectural merit, as well
as cultural significance.
The evaluation is based on international conservation principles
and standards, including UNESCO Conservation Standard, ICOMOS
Conservation Guidelines, Venice Charter 1964, Nara Document on
Authenticity, Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS) and China
Principles.
According to the study, 10 shophouses are classified as Level 1
(Outstanding Heritage Value), 16 as Level 2 (High Heritage Value),
12 as Level 3 (Medium Heritage Value) and 18 as Level 4 (Low
Heritage Value). Together with the other 10 Grade 1
buildings, the total number of shophouses with outstanding heritage
value is 20.
"Since the primary objective of the whole project is for heritage
preservation rather than for the urgent improvement of living and
environmental conditions, a strategy that encourages a voluntary or
market approach in general would be more appropriate than one of
compulsory resumption," Mr Cheung said.
After taking into account the heritage value of the buildings and
practical issues, such as history and pattern of ownership, market
values, physical constraints for restoration, potential for
adaptive re-use and the presence of any owners' corporation,
different approaches would be devised to facilitate their
conservation.
Level 4
For the 18 shophouses at Level 4, the URA considers that no action
is necessary as they have no significant building history and their
original built forms and characteristics have been significantly
altered.
Level 3
Regarding the 12 shophouses at Level 3, where single owners are
involved, the URA will approach them as a priority to seek their
collaboration in renovating the shophouses, with emphasis on
restoration of the original architectural elements on the facades,
and public safety improvements. Existing uses will remain
unchanged. For shophouses with multiple owners, the URA will try to
convince them to allow the URA to restore the common areas.
Financial assistance from the URA, for building restoration, will
be offered.
Level 2
As for the 16 shophouses at Level 2, the URA will attempt to
acquire the properties with single ownership at market price.
However, if the owners wish to retain ownership, or if there were
title problems, the URA would try to convince the owners to
collaborate in a comprehensive restoration plan, including the
offer of taking up a long tenancy by the URA with a provision for
sub-letting for adaptive re-use. For those Level 2
shophouses that are under multiple ownership, assistance for
general repairs of common areas would be offered to the owners if
voluntary acquisition of whole blocks were not possible.
Level 1
"The URA would place greater emphasis on the 20 shophouses with
outstanding heritage value as they form an important part of Hong
Kong's history," Mr Cheung said.
If it is concluded that the purely voluntary approach were unlikely
feasible to protect these 20 shophouses with outstanding heritage
value, particularly those with poor building conditions, the URA
would consider preserving these shophouses by way of
Development Scheme Plans (DSP) under the URA Ordinance. The
statutory planning process that would follow the DSP submission
would allow those affected, and the community at large, to express
their views to the Town Planning Board.
Relevant information on ownership, recent transactions, estimated
market values and building conditions from site observation have
been gathered and analysed. The URA will prepare a detailed
work plan and resources required for the implementation of this
expanded conservation strategy.
(End)