TNAG-0773-FCO40-977-Redevelopment-of-the-former-Kowloon-Canton-Railway-Station-1978 — Page 55

GR 515

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 200156Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTAL

HKK 173/3

RALEIV.

༡༩ 1973

DEAK OFFI

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PA

c. Taken

خدا

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TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 192 OF 20 FEBRUARY 1978. Ser

THE FORMER KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY STATION.

AS YOU WILL KNOW, THE FORMER KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION AT

TSIM SHA TSUI IS DUE TO BE DEMOLISHED. THE SITE WILL BE USED FOR A NEW CULTURAL COMPLEX. THE GOVERNMENT PLANS HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN OPPOSED, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BY THE HONG KONG HERITAGE SOCIETY, A SMALL BUT VOCIFEROUS ORGANISATION WITH PREDOMINANTLY EXPATRIATE MEMBERSHIP.

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2. DEMOLITION PLANS WERE SUSPENDED LAST SUMMER IN DEFERENCE TO THE

SOCIETY'S WISH TO PETITION THE GOVERNOR. THIS PETITION WAS CONSIDERED IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON 6 DECEMBER (YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXCO MEMORANDUM, XCCC(77) 89). FOLLOWING THAT

DISCUSSION, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, ON THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, ORDERED THAT: (A) THE PETITION FROM THE HONG KONG HERITAGE SOCIETY FOR THE RETENTION OF THE ABANDONED KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION SHOULD BE REJECTED: AND (B) THE DEMOLITION OF THE ABANDONED BUILDINGS SHOULD PROCEED. THE HERITAGE SOCIETY WAS INFORMED OF THIS DECISION ON 30 DECEMBER.

3.THE STATION CLOCK TOWER, WHICH IS SOMETHING OF A LANDMARK, WILL HOWEVER NOT BE DEMOLISHED, DESPITE SOME FEELING TO THE CONTRARY IN EXCO. INSTEAD IT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE NEW CULTURAL COMPLEX.

4. THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS HAS NOW CALLED FOR TENDERS FOR

THE DEMOLITION WORK. CONTRACTS ARE DUE TO BE AWARDED IN MARCH AND DEMOLITION WILL BEGIN TOWARDS THE END OF THAT MONTH. THIS MOVE HAS CAUSED THE HERITAGE SOCIETY TO DEMAND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION TO DEMOLISH THE STATION SHOULD BE TAKEN UNTIL THEY HAVE PETITIONED THE QUEEN AND HAVE RECEIVED AN ANSWER THERETO.

CONFIDENTAL

15. I THOUGHT