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 & Monuments Ordinance.

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

A piece of Hong Kong history

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.

The Government has been in discussions with the owner since June 2001, after learning of intentions to redevelop the site, in the hope a mutually beneficial agreement could protect the building and enable the owner to conduct any development. However, no agreement was reached and the owner went ahead to apply for a demolition permit last March.

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.

Declaration will not affect property ownership

The area to be declared is about 1,250 square metres, comprising an area of about 480 square metres occupied by the building and a peripheral area of about 770 square metres, which provides access to the building from the outside of the Hoh Fuk Tong site.

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

Because the area to be declared occupied only a small portion of the intended redevelopment area, the declaration should not prevent redevelopment in that area altogether.

The Government will continue to maintain dialogue with the owner and render 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.