SUPPORT FOR THE K.C.R. BUILDINGS.
PAGE A.
*.nnex. G
Your Exoellenoy is aware that the Hong Kong Heritage Society has for some time been oollecting signatures to petition for preservation of the Railway Station Building. These are still being collected. This campaign met with wide support wherever it reached, particularly the support of the Chinese-speaking population. This extended to Television, Radio 'Open Line' in Chinese and English, and discussions on Commercial Radio.
Support was, in fact, much greater than even we had contemplated. The principal deterrent to signing was not apathy but cynicism as to the sincerity of Government's intentions to take account of public opinion on this or, indeed, on matters generally. Thus what was questioned was not the merit of the building, but the value of signing, considering the Government
would go its own way in any case.
Sa Ak
Subsequent events namely Your Excellency's announcement of the building's demolition while signatures were still being collected confirmed this belief. The result was a serious setback
The announcement' to our campaign just as it was gathering momentwo.
did not, however, diminish people's feeling for the building.
A decision, now, to reprieve the building would do much to restore credibility in Government's claims to respond, not just to its Counsellors, but to public opinion, and sentiment, generally.