Opinion | Don’t be so quick to ‘renew’ Hong Kong at the expense of its heritage
- The Urban Renewal Authority’s plan to redevelop the area around Mong Kok flower market is a reminder of the inevitable clash between ‘progress’ and preservation
- To maintain the market’s appeal to locals and visitors, minor tweaks should be considered instead of massive overhauls
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess heritage preservation must be the same. What one person may see as a useless and derelict old building, better knocked down and replaced with something modern and useful, another may see as a priceless reminder of the community’s past to be preserved almost without regard to cost.
And is it just the buildings, or does heritage include the activities in and around them? To what extent is one’s opinion affected by personal history with the area in question. And who is to be the ultimate arbiter?
The word “market” might bring to mind proposals to maintain those in Western, Central and Yau Ma Tei, among others. The old Western Market building is attractive and the fabric has been well preserved. Some products are still on sale, though it is also used for general community purposes. I have seen senior citizens taking dancing lessons there, for example.
