Antiquities Advisory Board

The Antiquities Advisory Board is a statutory body [ [http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/antiquities.php Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Antiquities and Monuments Office ] ] of the Government of Hong Kong created in 1976 to evaluate old buildings in Hong Kong, and to recommend those with historical or architectural merit for listing as monuments. It is under the responsibility of the Home Affairs Bureau, directly under the Leisure and Cultural Service Department.

Its head office is now housed in Former Kowloon British School.

History

Although the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, which allowed for its creation was passed in 1971, it was only created as a result of the decisions to demolish the 1911 GPO building in 1976, and the KCR Tsim Sha Tsui terminus.

Rôle

It advises the Antiquities Authority which historical items can be declared as monument or a proposed monument under of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53), how to restore and conserve the historical items, and to promote the conservation of Hong Kong's heritage.

It is therefore responsible for grading buildings in and around Hong Kong. However, the grading status is not-binding on the Governmentcite news|title = Historic status for pier, but future still in doubt | first = Chloe | last = Lai |publisher = South China Morning Post | date = May 10,, 2007 | page = 1 ] .

Important cases

Kowloon Station (1978)

Some members of the newly created Board attempted to intervene to save the Tsim Sha Tsui terminus of the Kowloon Canton Railway from demolition, but was informed that it did not have any right in the matterMichael Chugani, [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/newspaper/view/22_01.01/34666.pdf No place for history in money conscious HK] , The Standard, June 08, 1978] .

Hong Kong Club Building (1980)

After initially hesitating to intervene in the case of privately held property, the board voted in the eleventh hour, late in 1980, [Tim Hamlett, [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/newspaper/view/22_01.02/34770.pdf No tears for the Club, but what a pity for the palace] , South China Morning Post, May 22, 1981] to make the Hong Kong Club Building a declared monument.Eric Cavaliero, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=26618&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970213&sear_year=1997 "Hong Kong Club members succumbed to redevelpment offer] , The Standard, February 13, 1997] A petition was sent to the Executive Council,Lynne Watson, [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/newspaper/view/22_01.02/34737.pdf 11th hour bid to save HK Club] , South China Morning Post, October 12, 1980] but the plea was rejected on September 16, 1980 on grounds it would cost an "unacceptable" HK$500 million to rescue.

Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier (2006)

In 2001, an impact assessment report [http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_0552001/report/vol2/eia_0552001appendix_w.pdf EIA: A survey report of Historical Buildings and Structures within the Project Area of the Central Reclamation Phase III] , Chan Sui San Peter for the HK Government, February 2001] for the Central reclamation, noting the public attachment to the Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier and its clock tower, recommended its relocation, was approved by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2002cite web| authorlink = Donald Asprey | title = Attempts to save old pier losing steam | date = 2006-12-07 | publisher = The Standard | url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=33538&sid=11223570&con_type=1&d_str=20061207&sear_year=2006 | accessdate = 2006-12-16 ] .

Queen's Pier (2007)

The AAB convened a public hearing on May 9, 2007 to discuss the grading of Queen's Pier.

Board members voted by a majority to give it a 'Grade 1' listing, but without a recommendation to the government on its status as a monument [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=44107&sid=13530773&con_type=3&d_str=20070510&sear_year=2007 Antiquities backing to save Queen's Pier] , Damon Pang, The Standard, May 10, 2007] . However, the Government ignored the vote, stating that its motion was non-binding on the Governmentcite news|title = Historic status for pier, but future still in doubt | first = Chloe | last = Lai |publisher = South China Morning Post | date = May 10,, 2007 | page = 1 ] .

ee also

* Antiquities and Monuments Office

External links

* [http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/about.php Homepage]

References