XN000022-1987-12-28 — Page 2

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1987

DECLARATION OF SYNAGOGUE AS MONUMENT WITHDRAWN

*

THE ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY DECIDED ON DECEMBER 24 TO WITHDRAW THE DECLARATION OF THE OHEL LEAH SYNAGOGUE AT ROBINSON ROAD AS A PROPOSED MONUMENT.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (MONDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GUS CHUI, SAID THE DECISION WAS MADE ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG AND DEVELOPERS OF THE SITE HAD UNDERTAKEN TO RECONSTRUCT THE SYNAGOGUE TO ITS AUTHENTIC DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS, PRESERVING THE ARTIFACTS AND USING AS MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS POSSIBLE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESERVATION OBJECTIVES.

WITHDRAW THE AND ARGUMENTS

MR CHUI ADDED THAT THE ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY, WHO IS THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, HAD DECIDED TO DECLARATION AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE FACTS PRESENTED AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FOLLOWING FACTOR:

* THE RELATIVE HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL

THE SYNAGOGUE;

* THE NEED TO PRESERVE A SYMBOL

HONG KONG:

SIGNIFICANCE OF

OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN

* THE STABILITY AND FUNCTIONAL

BUILDING:

ADEQUACY OF THE EXISTING

* THE WISHES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ITSELF;

THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE;

* THE POTENTIAL GEOTECHNICAL DANGERS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS;

AND

* THE GOVERNMENT'S LIABILITY FOR COMPENSATION FROM THE PUBLIC

PURSE.

THE OHEL LEAH SYNAGOGUE, LOCATED AT 70 ROBINSON ROAD, WAS BUILT IN 1902 ON LAND DONATED BY THE LATE SIR JACOB SASSOON.

THE ONLY JEWISH SYNAGOGUE IN HONG KONG, IT SYMBOLISES THE PRESENCE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND IS THE LAST TANGIBLE REMINDER OF THE 19TH CENTURY SINO-JUDAIO TRADE CONNECTIONS.

THE SITE ON WHICH THE SYNAGOGUE STANDS IS HELD UNDER UNRESTRICTED LEASE OF 999 YEARS FROM 1859; AND THE TITLE IS VESTED THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG.

AN

IN

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