ENG-2014 — Page 245

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

Government projects won a number of local and international awards, including the Design for Asia Awards, the Design for Well-being Award, the Green Building Award, and the Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence. The Reprovisioning of Wo Hop Shek Crematorium also received an award from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects in 2014 in recognition of its architectural excellence.

Built Heritage Conservation

The government's heritage conservation policy is to protect, conserve and revitalise as appropriate historical and heritage sites and buildings through relevant and sustainable approaches for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. In implementing this policy, due regard is given to development needs in the public interest, respect for private property rights, budgetary considerations, cross-sector collaboration and the active engagement of stakeholders and the general public.

By the end of 2014, six projects launched under the 'Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme' of the Commissioner for Heritage's Office (CHO) of the Development Bureau had commenced operation, works in progress on three other projects were expected to be completed in 2015, and pre-works preparation for a further three projects were in progress and renovation works are expected to commence by late 2015. The results of the applications for adaptive re-use of four historic buildings (No 12 School Street, Old Dairy Farm Senior Staff Quarters, Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre and King Yin Lei) are expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2015. The government has also partnered with non-profit-making organisations to revitalise selected historic buildings, including (with the Hong Kong Jockey Club) the Central Police Station Compound and (with the Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation Limited and its partners) the former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road. The revitalisation project of the former Police Married Quarters, which was transformed into 'PMQ; a creative industries landmark, was commissioned in April.

In the private domain, the CHO and the Antiquities and Monuments Office closely monitor any works or development of declared monuments and graded historic buildings and proactively engage owners of historic buildings to discuss possible preservation options. To help owners of historic buildings carry out maintenance works, the CHO approved grants for maintenance works at 13 privately-owned graded historic buildings in 2014.

Restoration and repair works were carried out on a number of historic buildings, including the Morrison Building in Tuen Mun and Fan Sin Temple in Tai Po. Archaeological investigations were carried out in Sai Kung, Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Cheung Chau and Lamma Island. Archaeological features including ancient wells and stone building remnants dated to the Song-Yuan period were discovered at the works site for To Kwa Wan Station on the Shatin to Central Link. The majority of these unearthed features will be preserved in situ for future public display.

The Antiquities Advisory Board advises the government on matters relating to antiquities and monuments. So far, it has confirmed the grading of 1,3041 historic buildings to provide an

1 This figure includes items on the list of the territory's 1,444 historic buildings, and new items proposed for grading.

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