Heritage Conservation – To Conserve or Demolish?

Still remember this..? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPWHie0R1QE

What’s happened??? Queen’s Pier Demolish in Feb,2008 1st conflicts for heritage conservation between the government and society Rise of collective memory and awareness towards heritage conservation

Definition of Heritage Conservation To preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historic significance.

Why are there conflicts? HK has economic development  require land  demolish the old buildings  ignore heritage preservation  Conflicts

What have the government done?  The Development Bureau – Planning and Lands Branch was set up in 2007 Measures Examples 1. Changing the land King Yin Lane

2. Revitalization Blue House, WC Lai Chi Kok Hospital Conserving Central

Is the effort of the government enough? What do you think???

Is the effort of the government enough? Actually the government really did a lot The heritages in Hong Kong are not clustered at one place, they are widely distributed over the whole city  People have this feeling or misunderstanding  Conserving Central

Conserving Central (2009) Now the government tries to link up the buildings in the same district

Is the effort of the government enough? Considering the area of Hong Kong, the number of historical sites is not less. HK received the awards given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) every year  HK has preserved a lot of historical sites compared to other countries.

Preserve or demolish? What do you think???

BUT.. It is impossible to preserve all the old buildings and not having any developments. the government should ……

What can be done to solve the conflicts between environmental conservation and economic development?? 1. Public education 2. Revitalization the site instead of demolishing it 3. Strike a balance between heritage conservation and development

It’s discussion time! Let’s form into groups of 4 now!

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