27.
"Hung Lau" recommended as a monument
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The following is a question by the Hon Man Sai-cheong and a reply by the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is learnt that the Antiquities Advisory Board has agreed that a recommendation should be made to the Recreation and Culture Branch for declaring the "Hung Lau" building at the Castle Peak Farm in Tuen Mun as a monument. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council what specific follow-up actions it has taken, and what decision it has made, on the Board's recommendation?
Reply:
Mr President
I would first like to clarify that the AAB did not specifically recommend the declaration of Hung Lau itself as a monument. At its meeting on 28 February 1995, the Antiquities Advisory Board recommended for preservation as a monument the former Castle Peak Farm, within which boundaries Hung Lau stands.
The Administration now proposes to invite the Regional Council to establish and manage a public park on part of the site of the old Castle Peak Farm in keeping with the local surroundings and the history of the Farm for the benefit of the people of Hong Kong. We aim to include the Hung Lau building as a focal point within this park. A concrete proposal will be drawn up for the Regional Council's consideration in due course.
Since February 1995, the Antiquities and Monuments Office has taken various steps to follow-up on this matter. The AMO is consulting all interested branches and departments within government to ascertain the precise boundaries, ownership, occupation, use, zoning and any future plans for the various publicly and privately owned lots lying within the old Castle Peak Farm's boundaries. In addition, the owners of the various lots are now being contacted to obtain their views on the declaration. This process is rather complex and must be done thoroughly. It will therefore take some time to complete.