6歷史建築獲選活化

2009-02-26
【文匯報】 A25 | 通識博客 | 時人時事

　「活化歷史建築夥伴計劃」首批7幢歷史建築物甄選結果日前揭盅，6獲選項目包括多元化的主題活化方案，包括旅舍、中醫藥保健中心、酒店等。其中爭議較大的北九龍裁判法院將活化成藝術設計學院，並會與同區發展為中華文化城的荔枝角醫院及改為青年旅舍的美荷樓，打造成深水埗區的「文化小區」，為本港旅遊業注入新的經濟動力。政府會為整項計劃撥款超過5億元作資助建築物的修復成本及社企營運，料建築期可創造約1,000個職位，到2011年中多個項目陸續落成後，再帶來約500個全職及兼職職位。

　發展局去年初推出「活化歷史建築夥伴計劃」，收到114份申請，負責審批的活化歷史建築諮詢委員會主席陳智思稱，自去年6月，委員會召開約16次會議審議各申請，當中不少意念不錯，提出的活化方案富有創意和高質素，但有非牟利機構旨於「找會址多於保育歷史建築」，亦有申請因「錯配」最終無法入圍。

　林鄭月娥日前在記者會上宣布「活化計劃」的第二批共5幢歷史建築物名單，包括一直備受關注的灣仔藍屋建築群、前粉嶺裁判法院及再度推出的舊大埔警署等。

Six historic buildings to become tourist attractions

　Results of the first batch of historic buildings shortlisted for the Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme were announced on 17 February. Six out of the seven buildings were selected for revitalization and will be refurbished under various schemes to become hostels, Chinese medical healthcare centre, hotel, etc. The North Kowloon Magistracy building, one that had caused much controversy, will be converted into an art and design school. The school will be located in the same district with two other projects involving the Lai Chi Kok Hospital which is to become a centre for the promotion of Chinese culture and national education, and the Mei Ho House which will be turned into a youth hostel. It is expected that together, these three buildings will form a cultural hub in Sham Shui Po to bring economic vitality to the tourist industry in Hong Kong. The government will allocate more than HK$500 million for the entire Scheme to subsidize renovation work and operation of social enterprises. It is anticipated that about 1,000 jobs will be created in the construction period and upon commissioning by mid-2011, some 500 full-time and part-time jobs can be introduced.

　The Development Bureau launched the Revitalization Scheme early last year and 114 applications were received. The Advisory Committee on Revitalization of Historic Buildings, which is responsible for assessing the proposals, had had 16 meetings since June last year to examine the applications, according to its chairman Bernard Chan. He said that many of these applications outlined good ideas and presented very creative and high-quality proposals. However, it seemed to him that there were non-profit organizations that aimed “to find resident premises rather than to preserve historic buildings” and he also mentioned that there were applications which did not succeed in the end because of “mismatch”.

　At the press conference on 17th February, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the five historic buildings selected for the second round of the Scheme. They include the much-concerned Blue House Cluster in Wan Chai, the former Fanling Magistracy and the re-launched Old Tai Po Police Station.

Translated by 開明