Historic Morrison Building to become a monument

A 70-year-old building in Tuen Mun with links to Hong Kong's role in the eventual establishment of the People's Republic of China is to be protected by the government.

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, is initiating procedures to declare the Morrison Building at Hoh Fuk Tong Centre in Tuen Mun a monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.

This follows a recent decision by the Chief Executive in Council to dismiss the objection lodged by the building's owner. It is the first time a privately owned building is to be declared a monument without the owner's consent.

The Morrison Building was originally part of a villa built in 1936 by General Cai Tingjie (1892-1968), who led the 19th Corps against the Japanese invasion.

From 1946 to 1949, it was turned into the Dade Institute - a tertiary education institution founded under the directive of Chinese leaders Zhou Enlai and Dong Biwu.

Many eminent Chinese scholars of the time lectured at the institute, nurturing a group of bright young intellectuals. The building bears witness to the unique role played by Hong Kong in the history of modern China and the establishment of the People's Republic.

After learning of the owner's plan to redevelop the site in June 2001, the government had been in discussions in the hope that a mutually beneficial agreement could be reached to protect the building as well as enable the owner to carry out any development proposal.

However, no agreement was reached and the owner proceeded to apply for a demolition permit in March last year. The following month the building was declared a 'Proposed Monument', a move that protects it for 12 months against the owner's demolition plan.

In October, Dr Ho served on the owner a notice of his intention to declare the building a monument for permanent protection. The owner then raised an objection to the Chief Executive, which was subsequently dismissed.

The area to be declared a monument is about 1,250 square metres, including some 480 square metres occupied by the building and a further 770 square metres surrounding the site, which provides access to the building.

The declaration will not affect the ownership of the property. The owner has stated intentions to redevelop the Ho Fuk Tong site.

Because the area to be declared occupies only a small portion of the overall site, the declaration should not prevent redevelopment on the larger site.

The government will continue to maintain dialogue with the owner and provide assistance as appropriate.

It has also offered to bear the restoration and maintenance costs of the building after the declaration, provided that it will be open for public visits. There is also provision for the owner to seek compensation under the ordinance.

Ends/Thursday, March 18, 2004