The Development Bureau has received 113 proposals from various non-profit-making organisations for revitalising the first batch of seven historic buildings under the "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme".
The number of submissions for each historic building is as follows:
Old Tai Po Police Station: 23
Lui Seng Chun: 30
Lai Chi Kok Hospital: 10
North Kowloon Magistracy: 21
Old Tai O Police Station: 5
Fong Yuen Study Hall: 8
Mei Ho House: 16
A spokesman for the Development Bureau said, "We are very encouraged by the overwhelming response to the revitalisation scheme. This reflects that the new initiatives on heritage conservation announced by the Chief Executive in the 2007-08 Policy Address last October have received wide recognition and support from the community."
The revitalisation plans submitted propose a wide range of adaptive re-use for these historic buildings, including museums, galleries, education centres, training institutes, hostels and restaurants. The newly established Commissioner for Heritage's Office in Development Bureau has set up special teams to examine and assess these proposals. We aim to complete the assessment process before end of this year with a view to seeking capital grants for the selected projects from the Legislative Council.
The assessment will be done with the help of an Advisory Committee comprising mainly non-official members set up earlier this month under the chairmanship of Mr Bernard Chan, Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council.
"As a current member of the Antiquities Advisory Board and Chairperson of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Chan is very well placed to advise us on the 'Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme' with the social enterprise operations envisaged," the spokesman said.
"Apart from assisting in the assessment and selection of proposals, the Committee will also provide advice on the subsequent monitoring of the revitalisation plans. The Secretary for Development in future may also consult the Committee on revitalisation projects concerning other historic buildings," the spokesman added.
The Committee is formed by professionals and experts in the fields of historical research, architecture, surveying, social enterprise, finance, etc. It comprises ten non-official and three official members. They were appointed for a term of two years.
Apart from Mr Bernard Chan, three other members of the Committee are also members of the Antiquities Advisory Board, providing an essential link between these two important committees on heritage matters. The Antiquities Advisory Board will continue to perform its role in the assessment of historical significance of heritage buildings and sites and to provide advice on their conservation requirements.
The "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme" was launched in February 2008 with the objective of preserving and putting historic buildings into good and innovative use through operation of social enterprises by non-profit-making organisations with charitable status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.
Successful applicants will be given funding support, which includes a grant of an amount to be determined to cover the cost of major renovation to the buildings and another grant capped at $5 million per building to meet the starting costs and operating deficits of the proposed social enterprise for a maximum of the first two years of operation. In addition, nominal rent will be charged for the historic buildings.
"They will receive professional support from the Commissioner for Heritage's Office as well as dedicated teams in the Architectural Services Department and the Buildings Department in taking forward their projects, echoing the importance we attach to partnership in heritage conservation work," the spokesman said.
The full membership list of the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings is as follows:
Mr Bernard Chan (Chairman)
-Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council
-Member of Antiquities Advisory Board
-Chairperson of Hong Kong Council of Social Service
-President, Asia Financial Group
Mr Nelson Cheng Wai-hung
-Visiting Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong
-Project Director, Tai Hung Fai Enterprise Company Ltd.
Ms Susanna Chiu Lai-kuen
-Member of Antiquities Advisory Board
-Senior Vice President, Li & Fung (Trading) Ltd.
Mr David Fong Man-hung
-Vice-chairman, The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
-Deputy Managing Director, Hip Shing Hong Group of Companies
Mr Raymond Fung Wing-kee
-Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Mr Andrew Lam Siu-lo
-Member of Antiquities Advisory Board
-Executive Director – Development, Winnington Land Ltd.
Dr Lau Chi-pang
-Member of Antiquities Advisory Board
-Assistant Professor, Department of History, Lingnan University.
Ms Vivian Lau
-Chief Executive Officer, Junior Achievement Hong Kong
Ms Deborah Wan Lai-yau
-Member of Advisory Committee on Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities
-Chief Executive Officer, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Dr Philip Wu Po-him,
-Chairman of Board of Trustees, Lord Wilson Heritage Trust
-Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Wing Lung Bank Ltd.
Mr Jack Chan
-Commissioner for Heritage
Development Bureau
Mr Leung Koon-kee
-Assistant Director of Architectural Services (Property Services)
Architectural Services Department
Dr Louis Ng
-Assistant Director of Leisure, Cultural and Services (Heritage and Museums)
Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Ends/Thursday, May 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:23
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