TNAG-0774-FCO40-978-Redevelopment-of-the-former-Kowloon-Canton-Railway-Station-1978 — Page 47

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This is not true. As the Society has repeatedly emphasised, it fully supports the principle of a cultural complex either at Tsimshatsui or elsewhere, and believes that the old build- ing can be included in it.

b) It misinterprets and misrepresents the Heritage Society's

sketch plan for the Cultural Complex itself and Tsimshatsui, as a definitive plan. By criticising it as such the Govern- ment is attempting to discredit the Heritage Society's suggestions and the petition. The Society stated very clearly in its petition that the plan was a diagram of relationships intended as a basis for discussion, and not a definitive plan.

c) It claims that the Cultural Complex site cannot be replanned

on the lines suggested by the Heritage Society without re- ducing the scale of the facilities (i.e. size of concert hall, musuem, etc.) This is not true. The Hong Kong Heritage Society's facilities conform to the Government's own plan which the Government claims is already in an advanced stage of design. None of the amenities were reduced in the Heritage Society sketch. Indeed, the Art Gallery in the Heritage Society's sketch is slightly larger than that in the Government's draft plan.

Open Space' per se is of little value in the Hong Kong climate unless some form of shade is provided. It can be seen that in the Society's plan, ample 'usable' space can be provided under the buildings. This space can be integrated with the facilities of the Cultural Complex (exhibition space etc.) and the sea promenade and will be of far greater value to the public than a vast expanse of unprotected concrete even if it is 'planted' with a ceremonial fountain.

d) It alleges that in the Society's sketch the Planetarium has been 'relocated'. This is not true IF the information and plans given to the Antiquities and Monuments Board by the Government (in about June 1977) were accurate. The Society's sketch is based on that very plan. If, however, that Government plan was not accurate, then it is obvious the Antiquities and Monuments Advisory Board, the Heritage Society, and the public, have been misled.

e) It alleges that the Heritage Society's sketch plan fails to re-

cognise or ignores the constraints imposed by reserves for the MTR and the existing underground services, pipes, and cables for public utility companies.

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