The first step to safeguard our modern architectural heritage: identification, registration anddocumentation

Abstract

The demolition of Star Ferry Pier and Queen’s Ferry Pier, the controversial conservation approaches for Wan Chai Market and Central Market, and the recent crisis owing to proposed demolition of West Wing of Central Government Offices raise my deep concern on conservation of architecture of recent past. During public consultation for conservation approach for these modern buildings, the term of “collective memory” is widely adopted as the only core value of and justification to preservation. The architectural value of buildings of this period (i.e. 1950s - 80s) in Hong Kong, however, are always looked down or undervalued by conservation experts and general public owing to sheer quantities of such building type in our community.

This dissertation is to look into characters of modern architecture, values of such building type to our community and identify their exemplary works in Hong Kong. Through study of world-wide development of conserving modern architecture as built heritage in this dissertation, it tells us Hong Kong is far behind on this issue. We could not wait, but take our first step to safeguard the modern architectural heritage of our city. In the last chapter, therefore, we suggest major steps for conserving modern built heritage in Hong Kong – identification, registration, documentation, and study whether our modern built heritage could meet the six selection criteria of the World Heritage List.

Recently, I am pleased to learn that Hong Kong is applying for membership of Working Party on the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement (i.e. DOCOMOMO – Hong Kong). I wish the research result in this dissertation could contribute to such application.