III.
1.
4.
THE HONG KONG HERITAGE SOCIETY STATES :-
The plans for the Cultural Complex are not so far advanced
that they cannot be altered. The plans are merely sketch plans.
2. There is ample land available for the proposed Cultural Complex,
the retention of the K.C.R. and M.P.S. buildings, and a new
transport terminus.
3.
There is ample time for designing a scheme which would conserve
the buildings and incorporate the new elements. The transport terminus
is at a very early stage of planning and there are no other pressing
time factors.
4.
The tip of the Tsim Sha Tsui peninsula would benefit by being
replanned as one entity rather than on a piece meal basis.
5.
The land on which the K.C.R. building stands has not been
formally allocated to the Urban Council. The boundary Draft Outline Zoning Plan LK 1/56 between the K.C.R. building and the Cultural Complex
has not yet been approved by the Town Plaming Board, or by Your
Excellency. There are no published plans showing the limit of the
proposed Cultural Complex.
The entire building is, therefore, outside the originally approved boundary drawn between the site proposed for the Cultural .Complex and allocated to the Urban Council and the Crown Land
remaining as a forecourt to the Tsim Sha Tsui bus/ferry concourse.
6.
There is a need for a convenient bus terminus. To this end
the Transport Department lcdged an objection to Outline Zoning Plan LK 1/56 in August, 1976.
7. The K.C.R. buildings should be retained as a whole. The Clock Tower was designed as an integral part of a large composition.
The removal of the building will leave the tower denuded or architectural
finishes on three sides for more than half of its height, and refacing
will be needed. The usefulness and architecture of the structure
would be destroyed.
8.
-The cost of maintaining and re-using the building would not be high and this is regarded as a minor factor by Government.
/p.5 para.9 The