Historical site: Secretary for Development Carrie Lam tours the old Tai Po Station with Tai Po District Officer Poon Tai-ping and Tai Po Police District Commander Charles Mitchell.

Heritage preservation is one of the Government's major missions and priority will be given to facilitating the adaptive re-use of historic buildings, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says.

Mrs Lam toured the old Tai Po Police Station in Wan Tau Kok Lane in Tai Po today. The structure is a single-storey building constructed in 1899 shortly after the British leased the New Territories. It was the first Police station and headquarters in the region and is rated a Grade II historical building. The Government is now considering different options for the adaptive re-use of the building.

She also visited a flood prevention project in Kau Lung Hang and improvements to Lam Tsuen.

District upgrades

Kau Lung Hang area is one of the two remaining major flooding blackspots in the city. The $167-million flood prevention project comprises a 1,800-metre channel to enhance the capacity of the drainage network in the area. Works will be completed by end-2008.

Since 1997 the Government has committed more than $15 billion to flood prevention, cutting areas prone to major flooding from 3,000 hectares to 360 hectares.

The Lam Tsuen works include the provision of parking facilities, construction of a Chinese-style garden, road improvements, and the erection of a pottery museum in an old village school. The works will boost tourism in the area when completed by the end of 2008.

Mrs Lam said from the district councils new term in January, a $300-million dedicated capital works fund will be formed to support the councils' greater involvement in implementing minor works in the districts.