TNAG-1075-FCO40-1325-Legislation-for-the-preservation-of-ancient-buildings-and-mo-1981 — Page 35

VOUANU5***5996* F31

XCC(78)76

Restoration of the Building

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Page 2.

On the information available, it is likely that the building can be restored at a reasonable cost and that it would not be expensive to maintain thereafter. Although it is not possible to predict what further damage may be caused to the building by MTR works and operations, it is certain that, if the building can be saved at a rea- sonable cost, a decision to pull it down would arouse substantial and sustained objections from those who have an interest in the pre- servation of Hong Kong's few old or outstanding buildings. It seems probable that the opposition to the destruction of the old Supreme Court building would be stronger than that aroused by the demolition of the KCR Railway Station. The old Supreme Court has considerable architectural merit and is a. good example of the neo-classical style of public building which was fashionable in the early part of this century. It is to be noted that the Antiquities Advisory Board recommended, in 1977, that the building should be declared a monu- ment; this recommendation is still under consideration by the adminis- tration.

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It is recommended therefore that the building should be rehabilitated, if professional advice is that this can be done without undue expense, and that there should be an announcement of this decision and as to what its future use will be, to avoid a struggle between conflicting interests.

Use by the Judiciary

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Before considering alternative uses, it seems reasonable to give the first option to the Judiciary, for which the building was constructed and by which it has been occupied since it was opened. The building was planned for three courts and has been patched and altered in a haphazard way to contain ten. Many of these are small, wrongly 'shaped, difficult of access, and generally unsuitable for their specialised purpose.

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One suitable future use of the building would be to serve as the Hong Kong Court of Appeal. This consists at present of one division of three judges. However, it seems likely that the Court of Appeal will be sitting in two or more divisions within the next few years. Such spare space as might then be available in the building could be readily occupied for other judicial purposes.