From space to place: understanding the interpretation of history of Pak Tsz Lane Park

Abstract

The history of the 1911 Revolution has been widely celebrated across the straits in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. Numerous memorials and other points of interests have been established in the name of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Hsü 2000, 454-455), or the Revolutionary societies (Vickers 2007). In Hong Kong, a Dr. Sun Yat-sen Heritage Trail was established in the 1990s under the collaboration of Government Departments (Heather 2003). However, quite a number of the built structures relating to the history of the revolution along the trail were demolished a long time ago, which, as a result, may limit the impact of the interpretation of the Heritage Trail. Recently, the “Conserving Central” Conservation initiative (Development-Bureau 2010) and Redevelopment Projects of the Urban Renewal Authority (Urban-Renewal-Authority 2012) created a window of opportunity to strengthen the interpretation of the Heritage Trail. In implementing the H18 Graham Street/Peel Street Redevelopment Project, the Urban Renewal Authority also built the Pak Tsz Lane Park to celebrate the history of the Fu-ren Literary Society (The Chinese Patriotic Mutual Improvement Association), one of the pioneers in advancing the Western learning and calling for the Modernization of China (Urban-Renewal-Authority 2012). These interpretation efforts also invite study of the effectiveness of interpretation. The Police Married Quarters conservation project will unveil the history of the Central College attended by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with the assistance of the discovered foundation of the Central College (PMQ 2013). The Headquarters of the Fu-ren Literary Society was situated in Pak Tsz Lane. The built structure which housed the headquarters is non-existent. Prior to the construction of the Pak Tsz Lane Park, the site was under the management of three Government departments (Central-and-Western-District-Council 2009, 2). The site consisted of playground facilities, a plant nursery and a public passageway. Opened in 2011, the Pak Tsz Lane Park consists of a Historic Pavilion, a Historic corridor and educational playground facilities, which serve to inform the visitors of the history of the activities of the Fu-ren Literary Society (Urban-Renewal-Authority 2012).