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A transfer of development rights could be permitted.
This scheme has been the subject of a detailed submission to the PWD by Heritage Society and Hong Kong Club member Mr. Jon Prescott. As he points out, the preservation of historical buildings in the urban areas of Hong Kong is virtually impossible in the present conditions "because the economic arguments are so heavily loaded in favour of redevelopment."
The scheme offers other town planning benefits as well, and certainly should not be put aside on minor technical grounds, especially in view of the major social benefits which would derive from it in this
instance.
3.
A suitable site in Central could be granted to the
Club in exchange for its present site. This exchange could be the subject of an agreement, or in the absence thereof one deemed equivalent to the present site and
given to the Club in compensation for the resumption
of its present building.
It seems to us likely that, in the present climate, a land exchange is the most attractive and simplest solution to
the question of preservation. A number of sites may be
proposed:
a) The parcel of land south of Lambeth Walk, zoned for
open space and slated to be included as an appendage
to Chater Gardens;
b) The site of Murray Barracks, after the latter has been
dismantled and reconstructed elsewhere;
c) A site within the Victoria Barrack' land;
d) The site now occupied by the City Hall carpark.
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