Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme

The Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme (Chinese: 活化歷史建築夥伴計劃) is an initiative launched by the Hong Kong Government, part of a broader policy of heritage conservation in Hong Kong. In order to preserve and put historic buildings into good use and promote public participation in conserving historic buildings, the Hong Kong Government has chosen Government-owned buildings for adaptive reuse under the Scheme.

Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme
Traditional Chinese活化歷史建築夥伴計劃
Simplified Chinese活化历史建筑夥伴计划

As of 2018, 8 properties have been opened in their new functions and 11 additional properties have been allotted for renovation.[1] New uses include a museum,[2] a marketplace,[1] a 'creative arts psychological therapy centre',[1] a facility to train guide dogs for the blind,[1] and a leadership training centre with hostel.[3]

Scope

Eligible applicants are non-profit-making organisations with charitable status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112) and joint ventures of two or more non-profit-making organisations.[4][5] Participation requirements are broad, with equal weight promised to organisations regardless of size, age, or 'local experience in heritage conservation'.[5]

Applicants submit proposals for using these buildings to provide services or business in the form of social enterprise. Submissions include detailed plans to show how:[4][5]

  • the historic buildings would be preserved
  • their historical significance would be brought out effectively
  • the social enterprise would operate in terms of financial viability
  • the local community would benefit, especially in terms of jobs and cultural landmarks.

Funding can be entirely independent, or government funding support may be available.[5] Government funding may come in the form of a grant for renovation, reduced rental fees, or a grant to assist with start-up costs and early operating costs.[5]

The Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation (ACBHC)[6] – composed of experts in development and conservation – then assesses the proposals.[4] After two rounds of assessment, the ACBHC chooses the bidding winner.[5]

Revitalisation work

Batch I

Batch I of the Scheme started in February 2008.[7] Batch I of the Scheme included seven buildings:[8]

A total of 114 applications from non-profit-making organisations[10] were received for the 7 Batch I historic buildings under the Scheme. The Development Bureau announced the competition results on 17 February 2009 (less an award for Old Tai Po Police Station), along with a series of roving exhibitions set for that year.[7] The renovations followed a staggered schedule, with the first project beginning in December 2009 and the last project ending in September 2013.[11]

Batch II

Batch II of the Scheme started in August 2009.[9] Batch II included the following buildings:[12]

  • The Blue House Cluster in Wan Chai
    • Blue House – built in 1923–1925, Grade I
    • Yellow House at Nos. 2-8 Hing Wan Street – built in 1922–1925, Grade II
    • Orange House at No. 8 King Sing Street – built in 1957, not yet graded
  • Former Fanling Magistracy in Fanling – built in 1960, not yet graded (now Grade III) [later postponed to Batch III[13]]
  • Old House in Wong Uk Village – built in 1911, Declared Monument [bid but not awarded[9]]
  • Old Tai Po Police Station (re-launch)
  • Stone Houses No. 31-35 Hau Wong Temple New Village, Junction Road – built in 1937–1957, not yet graded (now Grade III)

A total of 38 applications were submitted for 5 buildings.[9] Projects were selected for 3 of the buildings.[9] The work began in December 2012, and all three projects were completed by April 2017.[14]

Batch III

Batch III of the Scheme began in October 2011.[15][16] Batch III includes the following buildings:[13]

A total of 34 applications were submitted.[15] The ACBHC announced the winning proposals for 3 of the 4 buildings in February 2013,[16] but postponed the revitalisation of King Yin Lei.[15] Renovation work ran from June 2016 to June 2018, and the 3 projects were commissioned in December 2018.[16]

Batch IV

Batch IV of the Scheme began in December 2013.[17] Batch IV includes the following buildings:[18]

A total of 26 applications were received for the 4 historic buildings in Batch IV.[15] The 3 winning proposals were announced in June 2015;[19] King Yin Lei was again un-awarded, with short-term plans for government management and long-term reassessment.[17] Work on the 3 projects began in the first quarter of 2019, with planned completion dates in 2020 and planned commissioning in 2021.[19]

Batch V

Batch V of the Scheme began in November 2016.[20][21] Batch V includes the following buildings:[22]

The 5 historic buildings received 34 applications.[20] The ACBHC announced the winning proposals for 4 of the buildings in February 2013;[21] Fong Yuen Study Hall was un-awarded, with short-term plans for government management and long-term reassessment.[20] Renovation work is scheduled for 2021–2024, depending on the project.[21]

Batch VI

Batch VI of the Scheme includes the following buildings:[23]

Batch VI of the Scheme is in the planning stages. After a series of "Open Days for Applicants" in December 2019 and a "Workshop for Applicants" in January 2020,[24][25] proposals were originally due in April 2020 but after two postponements are due in September 2020.[26] This round includes the two previously postponed buildings, King Yin Lei and Fong Yuen Study Hall.[26]

References
  1. Zhao, Shirley (6 July 2018). "Two historic Hong Kong sites set to be converted into creative mental health therapy centres". South China Post.
  2. Chou, Oliver (22 August 2016). "Hong Kong's news museum will show history as it happened". South China Morning Post.
  3. "HKFYG celebrates a new chapter of its leadership training service: Located on the premises of the former Fanling Magistracy, The HKFYG Leadership Institute held its Grand Opening Ceremony recently". The Standard. 11 April 2019.
  4. "About the Scheme". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 13 July 2017.
  5. "General FAQs". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 12 November 2019.
  6. "Membership". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 2 November 2018.
  7. "Batch I of Revitalisation Scheme - Result of Selection". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  8. "Batch I of Revitalisation Scheme – Batch I Historic Buildings". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  9. "Batch II of Revitalisation Scheme - Result of Selection". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  10. "Batch I of Revitalisation Scheme - Submission for 7 Historic Buildings". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  11. Progress on Batch I of the Revitalisation Scheme (as at 18 Jul 2019) (PDF), Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, 18 July 2019, retrieved 23 January 2020.
  12. "Batch II of Revitalisation Scheme". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  13. "Batch III of Revitalisation Scheme". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  14. Progress on Batch II of the Revitalisation Scheme (as at 26 Feb 2018) (PDF), Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, 27 February 2019, retrieved 23 January 2020.
  15. "Batch III of Revitalisation Scheme - Selection Result". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  16. Progress on Batch III of the Revitalisation Scheme (as at 8 October 2019) (PDF), Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, 8 October 2019, retrieved 23 January 2020.
  17. "Batch IV of Revitalisation Scheme - Selection Result". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  18. "Batch IV of Revitalisation Scheme – Batch IV Historic Buildings". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 17 December 2018.
  19. Progress on Batch IV of the Revitalisation Scheme (as at 8 October 2019) (PDF), Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, 8 October 2019, retrieved 23 January 2020.
  20. "Batch IV of Revitalisation Scheme (Fong Yuen Study Hall newly added) - Selection Result". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  21. Progress on Batch V of the Revitalisation Scheme (as at 8 October 2019) (PDF), Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong, 8 October 2019, retrieved 23 January 2020.
  22. "Batch V of Revitalisation Scheme (Fong Yuen Study Hall newly added) – Batch V Historic Buildings". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 5 January 2017.
  23. "Batch VI of Revitalisation Scheme – Batch VI Historic Buildings". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  24. "Batch VI of Revitalisation Scheme - Open Days for Applicants". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  25. "Batch VI of Revitalisation Scheme - Workshop for Applicants". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  26. "Batch VI of Revitalisation Scheme - Application Arrangements". Conserve and Revitalise Hong Kong Heritage. Development Bureau, Government of Hong Kong. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.