Shinny towers alone do not reflect city soul
I refer to my short letter published on your pages 10 years ago (“Civic treasures must be spared”, February 27, 2010) about a neoclassical mansion sitting on the edge of Kennedy Road that was to be demolished to make way for a residential block. A group of architects who recognised the historical value of the property came out in droves to dispute the decision.
A visitor chooses to workout at a century-old service reservoir in Shek Kip Mei on December 28.
The structure, believed to have been completed in 1904, was slated for demolition before a public outcry prompted the government to reconsider.
Photo: Winson Wong
Decades ago, the General Post Office and the old Gloucester Building met with the same fate, probably without much resistance.
Only years later did the public realise what a grave mistake it was that a particular period of Hong Kong’s history had been destroyed by the wrecking ball. One can recall many painful stories where reminders of Hong Kong’s past have been erased one by one, chapter by chapter.
Several social media channels have posted short articles or comments since the unearthing of a century-old water reservoir in Bishop Hill in Shek Kip Mei (“Demolition U-turn a triumph for heritage-minded public”, December 31).
Amid the calls to halt its demolition, some even condemned those who wanted to preserve the structure, criticising them as “old-fashioned” or not progressive for wanting to “save worthless structures”, and advocating that the site be designated for commercial or residential use.
Many members of the money-mad Hong Kong public have views on Bishop Hill that are tied to practical, economic concerns. But we could approach the subject from a different perspective. What is a city without a rich representation of the arts and culture? It is much like life without music – unthinkable and excruciatingly intolerable.
Hong Kong, branded as “Asia’s world city”, need not be just about economic prowess or financial success. Gleaming monoliths made of glass and steel are nice; however, topping it should be a deeper appreciation of city relics, period art and architecture – the soul and DNA of an exceptional society.
Philip S.K. Leung, Pok Fu Lam
Published: 6:25am, 7 Jan, 2021