11.
VI, cont.
8. It has been considered that the number of Star Ferry passengers would be reduced when the M.T.R. is operational, therefore less
concourse space would be required at the Star Ferry.
9. Keeping the bus/transport terminus away from the Marine Police Station Hill would have the advantages of:-
(1) less traffic in the narrow area;
(ii) being cheaper to build, in that the demolition of the
granite hill is likely to be costly;
(iii) retaining the historic and attractively wooded hill, garden
old trees and buildings on it;
(iv) retaining and re-using an existing attractive and well kept
old building.
10.
The further problems of the escalation of costs has to be
considered.
The Planetarium was originally estimated at $17 million.
Now $40 million is nearer the mark. In this light Government should seriously consider the re-use of sound old buildings. No one really knows how much Government and the Taxpayer will be paying for the Cultural Complex, or are even ocmmitted to paying.
VII.
*1.
THE ARCHITECTURAL QUALITIES OF THE K.C.R. BUILDING.
Some
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects and members of tha
Architectural Office, P.W.D. regard the building as being worthy of
conservation, although this view is not shared by the Director,
Public Works. An architect, among others, on the Antiquities
Advisory Board, considered the K.C.R. building as worthy of
preservation. The Director, Public Works did not apparently agree.
Numercus people have expressed their appreciation of the K.C.R.
building.
2.
Architecture, as opposed to mere buildings, is an art-based
science, and its values are not so easily quantified.
3.
It is easy to dismiss the K.C.R. Station as an obsolete heap
of stones,
but if one may draw a parallel, there will always be a
difference between an antique Rolls Royce and a "clapped-out Mini".
The importance lies in "knowing how to appreciate".
4.
Aesthetics alone are no grounds upon which to argua, singe
each epoch has its own standards of beauty, and beauty is only in
/p.12 the eyes