The Development Bureau today (January 5) announced that Fong Yuen Study Hall at Tin Liu Tsuen, Ma Wan, will be included in Batch V of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, and invited revitalisation proposals from non-profit-making organisations.
Fong Yuen Study Hall is one of the projects under Batch I of the Revitalisation Scheme and has been revitalised into the Tourism and Chinese Cultural Centre cum Ma Wan Residents Museum by the Yuen Yuen Institute. Due to its business nature and geographical environment, the visitor numbers of Fong Yuen Study Hall are lower than expected. Although the Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau has closely liaised with the Yuen Yuen Institute to provide appropriate assistance, the operating conditions of the project have not improved. The Yuen Yuen Institute has decided to cease operation of the project with effect from January 1, 2017.
The Government has now taken over the site and the Antiquities and Monuments Office has made arrangements to continue opening the site to allow the public to visit and appreciate this historic building. The opening hours remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the Government has, after consulting the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation, decided to include Fong Yuen Study Hall in Batch V of the Revitalisation Scheme with a view to identifying a more suitable use for the building.
The application guide, the application form, the resource kits comprising the historical background of the building and conservation guidelines as well as other related information of the revitalisation of Fong Yuen Study Hall can be obtained from the Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau at 19/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, or downloaded at heritage.gov.hk. An open day with guided tour of this historic building will be arranged for interested applicants on February 10, 2017. The deadline for submission of applications is noon on May 5, 2017.
The deadline for submission of applications for the other four historic buildings under Batch V of the Revitalisation Scheme (i.e. Roberts Block, Old Victoria Barracks; Luen Wo Market; the Former Lau Fau Shan Police Station; and Watervale House, Former Gordon Hard Camp) remains unchanged, i.e. noon on March 23, 2017.
Applicants wishing to make enquiries should contact the Revitalisation Scheme secretariat at rhb_enquiry@devb.gov.hk or 3509 7347.