The Government suggests adding the Dragon Garden in Sham Tseng and the Blue House in Wan Chai to its Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says.

Mrs Lam said on a radio talk show that the Blue House is under one of the Urban Renewal Authority's projects. It is a prewar building with more than 70 years of history situated in 72A-74 Stone Nullah Lane.

The Dragon Garden's private owner wishes to give the premise to the Government as a gift. Mrs Lam will speak with the private owner and urge them to form a fund to revitalise the garden.

To strike a balance between development and conservation, the Government has reserved $1 billion to preserve and put historic buildings to innovative use.

Through the partnership scheme, non profit-making organisations can submit proposals for using these buildings to provide services or business in the form of social enterprise. The Government will provide financial support in the first two years of operation. The organisations must become self-sustainable.

Seven buildings such as the Old Tai Po Police Station, Lui Seng Chun and North Kowloon Magistracy will act as pilots. The possible uses are as a holiday camp, Chinese medicine shop, and antiquities and art gallery.

Mrs Lam stressed the government remains open to the amount of financial grants provided and also which seven pilot buildings should be chosen. The public consultation process is ongoing.

Quality vs. quantity

For the 10 major infrastructure projects outlined in the Policy Address, Mrs Lam expects to finish all of the public consultations and the zoning and development scheme plans in five years.