TNAG-0657-FCO40-806-Town-planning-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 42

6.8.

VI, cont.

8.7. "t has been considered

at the number of Star Ferry passengers

would be reduced when the M.T.R. is operational, therefore less

concourse space would be required at the Star Ferry.

9. Keeping the bus/transport terminus away from the Marine Police

Station Hill would have the advantages of:-

(i) less traffic in the narrow area;

(ii) being cheaper to build, in that the demolition of the

granite hill is likely to be costly;

(iii) retaining the historic and attractively wooded hill, garden

old trees and buildings on it;

(iv) retaining and re-using an existing attractive and well kept

old building.

10.

The further problems of the escalation of costs has to be

considered.

The Planetarium was originally estimated at $17 million.

Now $40 million is nearer the mark. In this light Government should

seriously consider the re-use of sound old buildings. No one really

knows how much Government and the Taxpayer will be paying for the

Cultural Complex, or are even committed to paying.

VII.

1.

THE ARCHITECTURAL QUALITIES OF THE K.C.R. BUILDING.

some

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects and members of the

Architectural Office, P.W.D. regard the building as being worthy of

conservation, although this view is not shared by the Director, Public Works. An architect, among others, on the Antiquities Advisory Board, considered the K.C.R. building as worthy of

preservation. The Director, Public Works did not apparently agree. Numerous people have expressed their appreciation of the K.C.R.

building.

2.

Architecture, as opposed to mere buildings, is an art-based

science, and its values are not so easily quantified.

3.

It is easy to dismiss the K.C.R. Station as an obsolete heap of stones, but if one may draw a parallel, there will always be a difference between an antique Rolls Royce and a "clapped-out Mini".

The importance lies in "knowing how to appreciate".

4.

Aesthetics alone are no grounds upon which to argue, since

each epoch has its own standards of beauty, and weauty is only in