Dynamic fortresses of the governance : how the Government Hill the centre of the government act as an organically evolved cultural landscape

Abstract

The paper is to investigate how the Government Hill acts like a long-lasting de facto government centre through different components’ interaction and, why and how it acts to be a pilot study to introduce cultural landscape to conservation areas. According to UNESCO, cultural landscape "embraces a diversity of manifestations of the interaction between humankind and its natural environment". Cultural landscape conservation indeed is already very mature in developed countries; however, it is still in its infancy in Hong Kong. Therefore, different literature is read to find out the breakthrough to Hong Kong’s cultural landscape conservation. Throughout the research, we could see that the boundary should not merely include St John’s Cathedral, Former Central Government Office, and Government House, but French Missionary Society Building and the Botanic Garden. These components shape Government Hill as a cultural landscape, as it shows the colonial government’s superiority, and safeguarding the harbour from a high terrain. However, as the site is adjacent to the central business area, it underwent threats from nearby commercial development, furthermore, it continued to evolve after WWII and the handover to fit in with the governance change. As an organically evolved cultural landscape, Government Hill is rich in cultural significance; bearing witness to the city’s development from colonial days to present day. It has contributed to a range of diverse values, including ecological value through scientific research; socio-cultural value, which is about connection with the community; historic value which are shaped from intertwining to Hong Kong development and, aesthetic value in heterogeneous building style. From above, Government Hill is an eligible place for pilot study using the internationally recognised cultural landscape concept in area conservation. To achieve this, this paper recommends that the Government could reform conservation policies, zoning plans including “cultural landscape”, and provide public space for people.