After considering local groups' proposed retention of the old buildings on Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai, the Urban Renewal Authority has decided to demolish them as they are too old to preserve and not historically valuable.

Meeting some Lee Tung Street members this morning, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam said any person can make a proposal to the Town Planning Board. If the board halts any project as a result of such proposals, though, it would make it difficult for Hong Kong's town planning to proceed.

The authority has ruled out residents' groups' proposals after consulting preservation experts' views. They do not find any special architectural or historic value in the old buildings on the street. After inspections, structural engineers also said they are too dilapidated.