THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1982
BUILT IN 1844 TO HOUSE BRITISH ARMY OFFICERS, MURRAY HOUSE IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES OF EARLY COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE. IT WAS NAMED AFTER GENERAL SIR GEORGE MURRAY, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES FROM 1828 TO 1830. BUT IT CANNOT REMAIN WHERE IT NOW STANDS FOR MUCH LONGER BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT VIBRATION FROM NEARBY TRAFFIC AND THE DANGER OF THE BUILDING COLLAPSING FROM PILE DRIVING AT NEARBY CONSTRUCTION SITES, MR TSE ADDED.
ANOTHER SUBSTANTIAL GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE
OUR HERITAGE IS THE ALLOCATION IN MARCH OF A $6.5-MILLION FUND TOWARD THE RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL SUPREME COURT BUILDING. WORK ON THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
PROTECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF DECLARED MONUMENTS NOW COME UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. BUT THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD, DR SOLOMON BARD, SAID RESTORATION OF ANCIENT STRUCTURES REQUIRES +VERY SPECIALISED EXPERTISE+.
+WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 'SPECIAL RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE UNIT' WITHIN THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. IT IS NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE THE SETTING UP OF SUCH A UNIT, BUT I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NEGOTIATING FOR THE SERVICE OF AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD FROM THE U.K.,+ DR BARD ADDED.
DR BARD, WHOSE INTEREST IN CONSERVATION DATES BACK MORE THAN 30 YEARS, ALSO TAKES PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE BOARD, 42 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE TERRITORY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AS SPECIAL SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST (SSAI'S).
+THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DEVICE FOR MARKING SITES ON LAYOUT PLANS TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS DONE TO HARM THE SITES WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION, EXPLAINED THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG HEALTH SERVICE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES MARKING THE FORMER SITES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST, INCLUDING THE REVOLUTIONARY HEADQUARTERS OF THE LATE DR SUN YAT SEN. ABOUT 400 RELATIVELY MINOR ITEMS ARE ALSO PROTECTED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
HE SAID THAT IN CONSIDERING POSSIBLE MONUMENTS, THE BOARD TOOK INTO ACCOUNT A NUMBER OF EXTRANEOUS MATTERS, SUCH AS THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE PREMISES, PROPOSED TOWN PLANNING AND ZONING OF THE SITE, CROWN OR PRIVATE LAND, AND LIABILITY TO PAY COMPENSATION TO THE PRIVATE OWNER.
+BUT THE BOARD'S ADVICE WAS BASED CHIEFLY ON THE THREE PRINCIPAL CRITERIA LISTED UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE - THE HISTORICAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE OR STRUCTURE IN QUESTION.+
THE BOARD WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE AND THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.