'History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme' - Mark Twain.
A gallimaufry of random China history and research interests
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Hong Kong Quick Posts II - Tai O Police Station Development
Public access to historic buildings is a tricky subject in Hong Kong – just about every building, old or new, office or mall, has legions of officious men in dark suits with weird hearing aid things who’s main aim is to discourage anyone from entering anywhere or daring to sit for two minutes – who knows who they’re listening to?
The former Tai O Police Station, a rather striking white building on the western side of LantauIsland, is to be converted into a boutique hotel. The building has a number of rooms and several cells capable of being used – it also has two interesting features – white watch towers, though so far the developer has said these are dangerous and off-limits (surely they should make them safe and accessible as part of their refurbishment?). Still, in general, thank God for boutique hotels – that are saving many an old building from the likes of the big hotel chains who prefer to bulldoze and build identical skyscrapers with identical rooms, identical restaurants, identical lobbys and identical room service menus!
The site is controlled by a foundation (the Hong Kong Heritage Conservation Foundation), an NGO established by developer Sino Land (start worrying here!) who are revamping the site. However, locals and preservationists fear access will be strictly limited. The Foundation has said that entry to see the interesting interior architecture will only be allowed to non-guests on official tours. One local told the South China Morning Post – ‘Please don’t turn it into a private villa for the rich. It won’t cost them much to rent the whole hotel.’ Local Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan is also arguing for greater public access to appreciate the building and points out that the developer originally declared their intention to allow the public to appreciate Hong Kong’s heritage when they got the contract. But then we’ve heard developers in Hong Kong promise public areas, preservation and greenery a thousand times before and look what Hong Kong’s got!
I have always been curious about functionality in websites and, well, the world in general. I read this article with great interest. It does seem to me that the reason we comment is to speak our minds so why not have the comment field first? However, as others have pointed out, one gets used to the conventions regardless of reason. IT developer
Why not introduce some other characteristics of Hong Kong? And I won't buy a concern with the police, I go to the Hong Kong way is to go to shopping way is to travel. there are many Promo Codes about shopping! Amazon Coupon Codes uverse promo codes
Amy could depend D3 Goldon the particular night out. Regrettably, Kathleen discovers in which Connector is perhaps survive inside consumer house group perform properly reveal that Jack port can remain, Roublesome gives an emotionally charged goodbye to you which the new mother, and Guild Wars 2 Goldeven Ashley admits fascination with Roublesome.
As someone who divides their time pretty evenly writing about China now and China back then this seemed like a place to throw all the interesting bits that fall through the cracks somehow and never get used anywhere else.
It's basically the stuff that doesn't get used in my writing about modern China or in the books I do about old China - i.e. probably of little interest to anyone but me and therefore ideally suited to an obscure blog up a dark cul-de-sac of the Internet.
o Land (start worrying here!) who are revamping the site. However, locals and preservationists fear access will be strictly limited. The Foundation has said that entry to see the interesting interior architecture will only be allowed to non-guests on official tours. One local told the South China Morning Post – ‘Please don’t turn it into a private villa for the rich. It won’t cost them much to rent the whole hotel.’ Local Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan is also arguing for greater public access to appreciate the building and points out that the developer originally declared their intention to allow the public to appreciate 
Posts
6 comments:
when u gonna write about something interesting. say......ME
I have always been curious about functionality in websites and, well, the world in general. I read this article with great interest. It does seem to me that the reason we comment is to speak our minds so why not have the comment field first? However, as others have pointed out, one gets used to the conventions regardless of reason.
IT developer
I think your blog makeover looks really nice! Cheap Eden Gold
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FZF/296158577089118?ref=tn_tnmn
Why not introduce some other characteristics of Hong Kong? And I won't buy a concern with the police, I go to the Hong Kong way is to go to shopping way is to travel.
there are many Promo Codes about shopping!
Amazon Coupon Codes
uverse promo codes
Amy could depend D3 Goldon the particular night out. Regrettably, Kathleen discovers in which Connector is perhaps survive inside consumer house group perform properly reveal that Jack port can remain, Roublesome gives an emotionally charged goodbye to you which the new mother, and Guild Wars 2 Goldeven Ashley admits fascination with Roublesome.
Hii thanks for sharing this
Post a Comment