Heritage Watch[1]

October 2009

Perspective

Edinburgh Place as a Historical Landscape of Cultural Significance

Petition

We urge the Antiquities Advisory Board to confer grade I status on the Edinburgh Place and its defining structures as a Historical Landscape of Cultural Significance with the aim of declaring this historical landscape a Monument.

I. The Purpose
1. The purpose of this petition is to ask the AAB to grade Edinburgh Place as a monument. We propose that a nuanced “historical landscape” preservation method should be adopted by the AAB in this grading exercise as a way to move forward.

2. Edinburgh Place with its defining structures: the Dias, Queen’s Pier, and City Hall complex comprise a unique landscape in the heart of our city. Edinburgh Place was designed as a civic centre of Hong Kong. Edinburgh Place was designed as one integrated place for celebration, ceremony and culture. Edinburgh Place comprising Edinburgh Square and its Dias, and the defining structures including Queen’s Pier, City Hall complex and the Memorial Gardens, should be preserved together as a unique cluster, a “historical landscape” of “cultural significance”. In the Burra Charter cultural significance means ‘aesthetic, historic, scientific or social value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance is a concept which helps estimate the value of places. The places that are likely to be of significance are those which help understand the past and/or enrich the present, and which will be of value to future generations. These principles are set out in the Guidelines to the Burra charter, Australia ICOMOS.

3. This paper sets out the argument for Edinburgh Place as a whole to be graded and ultimately to be declared a monument. We strongly recommend that Edinburgh Place and its defining structures are graded together as one “historical landscape.” The entrance to City hall, the Dias and Queen’s Pier are located on one axis and together formed Edinburgh Place, a civic place for the community, ceremony, celebration and culture. We note that on May 2007, the AAB decided that Queen’s Pier is a Grade I Historical Building and the SHA informed the CE that it was short of monument status.

4. This will not only allow Hong Kong to preserve the historical corridor[2] that extends from the Legco building, Statue Square to the Edinburgh Place Complex, but also to preserve this rare civic space in Central from the encroachment of development and commercial interests. Moreover, given the significance of the historic events, Edinburgh Place and its defining structures will not only remain an attractive public space, but a tourist attraction and place for education.

II. Edinburgh Place in Perspective
5. Edinburgh Place in Central is a public civic centre built in the 1950s. Edinburgh Place was designed by British architects Ron Phillips and Alan Fitch. The complex included Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier (“Star Ferry Pier”), Queen’s Pier, the Dias, City Hall, Memorial Garden and the Star Ferry Car Park and Edinburgh Square itself. The buildings of Edinburgh Place were built in the1950s – 1960s as an integral complex of civic facilities. Together, they form a distinctive cluster of “modernist style” architecture and a rare representation of architecture of that period.

6. Politically, Edinburgh Place reflected the then governor’s effort to expand facilities for the people and included Victoria Park and an extensive public housing scheme. Both Victoria Park and the Edinburgh Place Complex were built on prime reclaimed land at the harbor-front, but were nonetheless, given to Hong Kong people for their free civic enjoyment rather than being sold in return for revenue.

Figure 1: The civic space of the Edinburgh Place Complex – a cluster of modernist style buildings. Source: Google Maps

Figure 2: The City Hall and the Queen’s Pier were conceived together as a complex. Source: Government Information Service. (1966)City Hall, Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Government Printer, p.5

Figure 3: The ceremonial axial starting from Queen’s Pier through the Dias on Edinburgh Place and into City Hall. Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 4: The architectural axis by design.

III. Historical Landscape: Conserving tangible cultural heritage
7. The current mainstream criterion of historical building conservation is based on the single individual “building” concept. Yet, according to the prevailing principles in conserving tangible cultural heritage, the concept of “historical landscape” or “landscape of significant cultural importance” have been introduced by different countries and cities.

8. New York passs, led the “Landmark Preservation Law” in the 1960s. The “landmark” concept is not limited to single historical buildings but includes also “landmarks, portions of landmarkandmark sites, interior landmarks, scenic landmarks and historic districts.”[3] In other words, the tangible cultural heritage being conserved can be an individual building, a site, a cluster of buildings, and even a district.

9. The international tangible cultural heritage conservation standard has been introduced by the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and China is a member country. The Burra Charter[4] clearly states that the “place” to be conserved refers to the “site, area, land, landscape, building or other work, group of buildings or other works, and may include components, contents, spaces and views”, which include “memorials, trees, gardens, parks, places of historical events, urban areas, towns, industrial places, archaeological sites and spiritual and religious places.”[5] In Article 2 of the Burra Charter, it clearly states that ,

“ 2.1 Places of cultural significance should be conserved.
2.2 The aim of conservation is to retain the cultural significance of a place.
2.3 Conservation is an integral part of good management of places of cultural significance.
2.4 Places of cultural significance should be safeguarded and not put at risk or left in a vulnerable state. ”

10. In 2004, the ICOMOS meeting in China published the most updated China Principles[6], which further develops The Burra Charter. The China Principles also include “modern and contemporary places and commemorative buildings, and those historic precincts (villages or towns)” into the definition of heritage. Right from the beginning, in Article 1, the Principles stated the concern for “landscape” and area, and not only for individual buildings.

Figure 4: Historical landscape preservation in the China Principles. Source: China Principle.

11. Besides Mainland China, Taiwan and Macau also define tangible cultural heritage in terms of “landscape” and “area” and not merely individual buildings. The Taiwanese government provides subsidy for the preservation and conservation of monuments, historical buildings, clusters and settlements[7]. The “Historic Centre of Macau” (O Centro Histórico de Macau) is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a “historical landscape” in its entirety. The Hong Kong government MUST NOT lag behind international and national standards in our actual practice.

12. According to Cap. 53 of the Antiques and Monuments Ordinance, “[The] Authority may […] declare any ,place, building, site or structure, which the Authority considers to be of public interest by reason of its historical, archaeological or palaeontological significance, to be a monument, historical building or archaeological or palaeontological site or structure.”[8] In practice, the AAB has so far graded historical buildings and structures individually and has yet to consider grading places, sites, landscapes or clusters. The AAB will be highly commended for its endeavor to conserve Hong Kong’s first historical and cultural landscape in the urban area by grading and conserving the entire Edinburgh Place as a “historical landscape” and recommend it to be declared a Monument.

IV. Historical and Cultural significance of Edinburgh Place
13. Edinburgh Place has significant historical and cultural values for Hong Kong, and the value of this civic space as a public square and complex of buildings and structures are important to the entire city. Edinburgh Place matches most historical themes proposed by the AAB, including 6 out of the 9 themes in AAB grading principles.[9]

14. First theme: The Edinburgh Place Complex is associated with significant events, phases, activities and historical figures at territorial level. It is significantly important in the historical development of Hong Kong at territorial level. Over the colonial period, the Edinburgh Place, including Queen’s Pier, the Dias and City Hall served as the ceremonial landing place for new Governors, which were then greeted at the Dias and then delivered their oath to serve as Governors of Hong Kong in City Hall. The quarter/complex as a whole has marked every new page of a gubernatorial chapter in Hong Kong history. The Edinburgh Place Complex is significant in the “Establishment of Colonial Rule and Maintenance of Social Stability, Law & Order” and “Military and Guerilla Activities during Japanese Invasion and Occupation”.

15. Establishment of colonial rule: Edinburgh Place is formed by the placement of Queen’s Pier, the Dias and the entrance to City Hall along one axis. All important ceremonies symbolizing colonial rule were performed here. Each arriving new Governor would land at Queen’s Pier, inspect the Guards of Honour from the Dias before being sworn in inside City Hall.[10] This unique historical axis should be preserved intact and in its entirety. At this place, citizens greeted Queen Elizabeth II in 1986, when she landed at Queen’s Pier with Prince Philip, after their historic first visit to China. The people of Hong Kong welcomed Princess Diana and Prince Charles when they arrived from at Queen’s Pier and then proceeded to the City Hall. Edinburgh Place was an important site where legislative ceremonies took place. For the ordinary people, this place has performed (and are still performing) important civic and political functions, from the post-War colonial period well into present-day. Their removal would scrap forever an important physical link with an important phase in the development of Hong Kong.

Figure 5: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent, Nov. 3, 1961 with Governor Sir Robert-Black GCMG, OBE.

Figure 6: Left: Arrival Ceremony at Queen’s Pier, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon inspection of the Guard of Honour at Edinburgh Place,in front of City Hall. Right: Crowds gather in Edinburgh Place, outside City Hall to greet the royalties.

Figure 7: Left: 1986 Royal Visit: Queen Elizabeth II and King Philip land at Queen’s Pier after their historic first visit to China. They were accompanied by Govenor Sir Murray MacLehose.

Figure 8: July 1992, Govenor Christopher Patten lands at Queen’s Pier Welcomed at Edinburgh Place, and is sworn into office in City Hall.

16. Establishment of the Administrative and Judiciary System: The City Hall at the Edinburgh Place is the place where vote-counting of the elections of District Boards, Urban Council and Legislative Council took place. The Urban Council, the first publicly elected municipality council in Hong Kong also held meetings in City Hall. This place commemorates the transformation and election of the Urban Council, which is a pivotal process in the transformation of the urban administration and the election system in Hong Kong. Edinburgh Place hosts the opening ceremony of every new year by the Judiciary.

17. Establishment of Public Infrastructures and Transport: Edinburgh Place consisted of several public piers, including “Star Ferry Pier”, which used to be called the “Edinburgh Place Pier”, and “Queen’s Pier”. During their entire existence, they acted as significant and important transport infrastructure connecting Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. The Star Ferry Car Park was one of the first multi-storey public car parks in Hong Kong, built in 1957, the same year as the Yau Ma Tei Car Park Building. Two years later, the City Hall Car Park was built.

18. Military and Guerilla Activities during Japanese Invasion and Occupation: The City Hall Memorial Garden and Cenotaph were “built in memory of the glorious dead in the war years between 1941 and 1945.”[11]

19. Second Theme: The Edinburgh Place has significant social and cultural values for Hong Kong at the territorial level. It is important as one the most recognized symbolic and visual landmark in the entire territory for the community and tourists alike. It is important in depicting “cultural identity” and perpetuating “collective memory” of the community at territorial level. It has accumulated a lot of historical significance as a cultural quarter, a public space and a place of social empowerment, belonging to, and shared by the public.

20. A symbol and visual landmark recognized by the community at the territorial level: Since the Edinburgh Place Complex was built in the 1950s, it is deliberately kept as a public open space near the harbor. Its purpose is “to promote freedom of movement and a sense of unlimited space”[12]. Since the very earliest days of the building of Edinburgh Place, the government, the architects and the citizens have agreed that the whole complex is to serve the community as a whole.[13] The architects Alan Fitch and Ronald Philips declared that the government’s idea was “from the very first day” to established the place “as a Centre for the community.”[14] The classic Bauhaus style of the City Hall “set an architectural trend in Hong Kong making this very first multi-purpose civic center a landmark design for Hong Kong architecture” of the 1960s.[15]

Figure 9: Architects Alan Fitch & Ronald Philips in 1962. Source: The City Hall 1962-1992.

21. Depicting the “cultural identity” of the community at the territorial level: Edinburgh Place is the “cradle” of Hong Kong’s “cultural identity”. It was where momentous public events took place, making it a “civic square” that gave birth to democracy and citizenship in Hong Kong. Its deliberate openness has made it a rallying point for small marches and protests, especially before the opening of the MTR, when it was THE key transport hub, making it a smaller version of Victoria Park, but nonetheless, a place of equal historical weight. Below are some examples of such historical events.

22. In 1966, when the colonial government accepted the fare-increase of Star Ferry despite huge social discontent and ignored the 40,000 strong anti-fare-hike signature campaign led by Elsie Hume Elliot, young activist Mr. SO Sau Chung started a peaceful hunger-strike at Star Ferry Pier in the Edinburgh Place Complex, joined by many sympathizers. So’s arrest was a catalyst in triggering mass protests on Kowloon side, which became the so-called “Kowloon Disturbance”. Historians agree that the anti-fare-hike protest at Star Ferry Pier is the first social movement in the 1960s and 1970s caused by the concern for local livelihood issues by the new locally born generation, the children of a previous generation of refugees and migrants. This is the paradigm-shift historical event marking the emergence of local “cultural identity” – exemplified by a locally born Hong Kong people.[16]

Figure 10: Hunger strike to protest the fare increase of Star Ferry by Mr. SO Sau Chung in 1966.

23. The “Protect Diaoyutai Movement” started in the 1970s and continues in Hong Kong until today. The Queen’s Pier at Edinburgh Place is the birth-place of this demonstration of patriotism by local Hong Kong people. The significance of this ceremonial pier as a symbolic colonial site at the heart of the city and right on a busy transport hub made it the ideal venue for a demonstration of this nature. This movement, led by a locally born generation of young people coming of age in the 1970s is also recognized by historians as one of the key moments in the emergence of a locally born cultural identity. This marks the shift in Hong Kong mainstream mentality from a transit, migrant mentality of the previous generation towards a locally rooted sense of cultural identity and historical agency.

Figure 11: Protect the Daiyutai movement in the 1970s at the Queen’s Pier.

24. The movement to make “Chinese language an official language” also began here at Edinburgh Place. This movement marked the emergence of Hong Kong people’s active claim of local identity over and above the colonial culture brought over by the British colonial establishment. It is thus not an exaggeration to designate the Edinburgh Place as the “cradle” of Hong Kong “cultural identities”.

25. Perpetuating “collective memory” of the community at the territorial level: Edinburgh Place perpetuates the “collective memory” of the community at the territorial level. It has accumulated a lot of precious memories that belong to and are shared by the public.

26. City Hall at Edinburgh Place is the “most prominent center of culture and arts”[17] and the first such centers to be built in the colony. Different milestone events in Hong Kong “such as the early Hong Kong Festival, the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 1973, the Asian Arts Festival in 1976, the International Film Festival in 1977, and the International Arts Carnival in 1982, all have their inaugurations here. This has testified to the eminence of the Hong Kong City Hall in the international arts scene. Its significant role in promoting cultural exchanges undoubtedly merits the pride of Hong Kong people.”[18] Since the founding of the City Hall, it is regarded as the “cultural centre of Hong Kong”[19] and aims at providing cultural and leisure services for people in Hong Kong of different ages, sexes and social groups. The first Hong Kong public library and museum was established in the City Hall complex as well. The City Hall Marriage Registry is the most popular amongst marriage registries in Hong Kong.[20] The newly married couples like to take the photographs at Queen’s Pier, Star Ferry Pier and the Edinburgh Place.

Figure 12: The cover of the Chinese version of City Hall: the cultural centre of Hong Kong: 1967, fifth anniversary, Hong Kong: Government Printer, 1967.

Figure 13: at the Marriage Registry, 1967.Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 14: Marriage photo at Queen’s Pier, 2007. Source: The authors of this paper.

27. Edinburgh Place was one of the stops of the 1964 Summer Olympics torch relay. Edinburgh Place is also a place where many Hong Kong movies, music videos and TV dramas are shot. The openness of this unique public place with minimum regulation (by police and security guards) has transformed this public Edinburgh Place into an ideal place for shooting, where producers rarely need to apply for outdoor shooting permission. Some examples of films, TV dramas and MTVs with the scenes from the Edinburgh Place are listed as follows:

　
馬楚成，《生日快樂》，香港：美亞電影製作有限公司，2007。
曾志偉，《最佳拍檔》，香港：新藝城影業公司，1982。
王晶，《精裝追女仔》，香港：永盛電影公司，1987。
陳可辛、李志毅，《新難兄難弟》，香港：電影人製作有限公司，1993。
曹建南，《精裝難兄難弟》，香港：天下電影製作有限公司，1997。
麥海珊，《唱盤上的單行道》，香港，2006。
無線電視的《大時代》
亞洲電視的《我和殭屍有個約會》
無綫電視的《水滸無間道》
無綫電視的《寫意人生》
無綫電視的《阿旺新傳》
無綫電視的《難兄難弟》
無綫電視的《東方之珠》
無綫電視的《創世紀II天地有情》
陳百強-凝望 MTV
陳百強無休止符 - 不 MTV
林憶蓮音樂特輯
Beyond-《活著便精彩》MV
Beyond-《我早應該習慣》MV
鄭融- 《愛得耐》MV
許冠傑-《鐘聲響起》MV

28. Third theme: The Edinburgh Place has significant importance in the area of “Economics Activities in the Colonial Period”. The Edinburgh Place Complex is significantly important for commercial activities in the colonial period. Trade fairs of cars, books and other products started in Edinburgh Place. Edinburgh Place is significantly important for local industries. The 2nd Floor of the “High Block” was a display centre of Hong Kong products, as shown in City Hall : the cultural centre of Hong Kong: 1967, fifth anniversary.

Figure 15: Fashion show at the City Hall.Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

29. Fourth theme: The Edinburgh Place Complex is a place with significant importance in “Social Development of the Colony”.

30. Social Life of Wealthy Classes or Social Leaders in Urban Areas: The City Hall at the Edinburgh Place Complex has been providing venues for social life of wealthy classes and social leaders in urban areas. The exhibition hall[21] and luxury restaurant in the early years were famous and popular places for the wealthy classes and social leaders to organize their social functions. The City Hall was also the venue of concerts and theatres for the wealthy classes and social leaders.

31. Social Life of Ordinary Chinese people: Besides the wealthier classes and social leaders, the ordinary Chinese also bring their social life to Edinburgh Place. They hold social gatherings, go to the City Hall to enjoy cultural functions and meet their friends. They even enjoy their daily lunch boxes at the Edinburgh Place Complex.

Figure 16: Social Life in the 1960s. Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 17: Social life in the 1960-1970s.Source: City Hall 10th Anniversary Hong Kong Arts Festival 1972.

Figure 18: Social Life in 1960-1970s.Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 19: Description of the use of the City Hall.Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 20: Lunch as Queen’s Pier. Hong Kong people enjoying their daily inexpensive lunch boxes and a moment of reprise at the busy heart of the central business district. Source: Tse Pak Chai

32. Cultural Diversity and Non-Chinese Communities: Edinburgh Place has been a place of cultural diversity. Edinburgh Place and specifically City Hall has been a consistent venue for different cultural activities and international cultural festivals that encourage inter-cultural exchange. Distinguished visiting artists all-over-the-world have visited, performed and exhibited at City Hall. Both Chinese and non-Chinese citizens go to City Hall to enjoy cultural activities. Since the colonial period until now, different ethnic groups and communities in Hong Kong have been using Edinburgh Place as their social gathering place.

Figure 21: Cultural event in the 1960s.Source: 《一九六七年 五周年──大會堂：香港的文化中心》

Figure 22: Cultural event in the 1970s. Source: City Hall 10th Anniversary Hong Kong Arts Festival 1972

Figure 23: Filipino weekly social gatherings as Queen’s Pier.
Source: Kith Tsang.

Figure 24: Mongolian traders dancing and singing with locals at Queen’s Pier.Source: YC Chen

33. Fifth theme: Edinburgh Place is significantly important for educational reform in the colonial period. Protests of the Chinese language movement (中文運動)[22] and protests to demand the re-opening of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School[23] closed down by the government took place at Edinburgh Place. These social protests led to subsequent educational reforms in Hong Kong.

34. Sixth theme: Edinburgh Place has been a significant historical and cultural landscape in post-war years. It is a living heritage that continues to be used extensively today. It is not only a venue seeing Hong Kong’s economic boom, public administration, but also development in culture and the arts. More importantly, it is THE place that demonstrates cultural diversity in Hong Kong.

35. Cultural diversity is an essential value recognized by the UNESCO and the World Commission on Culture and Development. Cultural diversity is “required by the principles of equity, human rights and self-determination” as well as sustainability.[24] As a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong has migrants from different parts of the world. The recognition of places with historical and cultural significance of different ethnic groups is the responsibility of a cosmopolitan government claiming this as a world city. To conserve a place with historical and cultural significance for the migrants as historical and cultural landscape is a significant step in demonstrating the government’s respect for the principle of cultural diversity.

36. Since the 1980s, the Edinburgh Place has been a place where migrant workers have social gatherings, social program, and political functions. The free library and computer service at the High Block of City Hall, the outdoor areas of City Hall, Star Ferry, Queen’s Pier and the entire Edinburgh Place are the weekend gathering places of migrant workers since the 1980s. It is where non-Chinese migrant workers (mostly Filipino/a) gather during their weekend day off. These migrant worker gatherings are not merely exclusive. There are often active interactions with locals and tourists. They co-exist peacefully for the last 30 years, making Central an important “symbol” of inclusive multicultural cosmopolitanism for the grass-roots as well as the bankers and professionals. It is a place for all walks of life. The civic character of the Edinburgh Place Complex makes this inclusive multiculturalism possible and sustainable.

Conclusion and Petition:
37. Edinburgh Place and historical continuity: All happenings in this place have made the Edinburgh Place an indispensable landscape for Hong Kong people and has contributed to our local history. It serves as a set of “footprints” outlining the growth of the city. The relocation of the waterfront occasioned by reclamation makes this entire place more, not less, important as the landmark delineating a once-waterfront of historical significance. Edinburgh Place and its defining structures including City Hall, the Dias and Queen’s Pier can only serve their function if they remain genuine in their form, construction, and location.

38. We therefore urge the Antiquities Advisory Board to confer grade I status on Edinburgh Place and its defining structures with the aim of seeing this entire “historical landscape” declared as a monument.

Online petition - Preserving Edinburgh Place as a Monument

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[1] This document is drafted by members of Community Cultural Concern (Desmond Sham, YC Chen and Mirana Szeto) on behalf of Heritage Watch
[2] In the historical trail designed by the AMO, the “Central and Western Heritage Trail” begins at the Edinburgh Place Complex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_and_Western_Heritage_Trail
[3] New York City Charter 2004
[4] The complete name of the charter is known as Australia ICOMOS charter for the conservation of places or cultural significance, published in 1999.
[5] The highlight is made by the writer of this paper.
[6] The complete name is Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China.
[7] 行政院文化建設委員會《古蹟、歷史建築及聚落保存維護補助作業要點》
[8] The highlights are made by the writers of this paper.
[9] Antiquities Advisory Board. “Result of Assessment of 1,444 Historical Buildings, Annex C: Proposed Historical Themes”.
[10] EIA: A survey report of Historical Buildings and Structures within the Project Area of the Central Reclamation Phase III, Chan Sui San Peter for the HK Government, February 2001.
[11] Hong Kong City Hall – Memorial Garden http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/CityHall/en/memorial_garden.php
[12] Liz Heron. “Save Queen’s Pier, says architect of City Hall Complex”. South China Morning Post. 13 May 2007
[13] For instance, in City Hall 10th Anniversary Hong Kong Arts Festival 1972, the government deliberately agrees that the City Hall “also represented a determined attempt to serve the community as a whole, and not a privileged minority” ([…]決定為整個社會服務，而不是只為少數特權份子服務。)
[14] From The City Hall 1962-1992, Hong Kong: Government Printer, 1962.
[15] Hong Kong City Hall – Introduction http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/CityHall/en/index.php
[16] 羅永生〈天星：香港意識的搖籃〉. 《明報》，2006年12月21日
[17] Hong Kong City Hall – Introduction http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/CityHall/en/index.php
[18] Ibid.
[19] Hong Kong City Hall (1967) City Hall : the cultural centre of Hong Kong: 1967, fifth anniversary. Hong Kong: Gov’t Printer
[20] Hong Kong City Hall – Other Facilities – Marriage Registry
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/CityHall/en/marriage_registry.php
[21] The purpose of the exhibition hall at the Lower Block of City Hall includes cocktail parties, exhibitions and International conferences. (Source: Government Information Service. (1966) City Hall, Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Government Printer, p.2.)
[22]鄧小樺、周思中、黄靜〈關於皇后，我有話說〉，《明報》2007年6月30日
[23] The Gist. “Mass march on school row”, 10 July 1978.
[24] UNESCO (1998) World Culture Report 1998: Culture, Creativity and Market, p.18.

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《http://www.hkcommunities.net/concern/westkln/wp-content/

uploads/2007/09/wkcd_report.doc》

報告的內容，主要是重新為西九龍定義，西九龍不止是西九文化區，而是整個西九龍填海區和舊區的居民，在90代初，政府以油麻地、佐敦、深水埗、大角咀等舊區居住環境擠迫，缺乏公共空間，以疏導舊區居民為由，在當時西九龍海邊進行填海。結果成為現在豪宅的集中地，昔日對舊區市民的承諾束之高閣，現在西九文化區正式上馬，除了文化設施外，59%土地會用作興建住宅和商業用途，而當年40公頃公共空間的承諾，又變成支離破碎的公園、廣場、天台上的平台花園。

我們提出文化公園的概念，不再要高級住宅和商廈，除了文化設施，我們需要的是一個包容各階層和文化的文化公園，正如我們進行的西九參與式工作坊(請看本網頁內工作坊結果與報告的條目)結果一樣，576位市民對西九遠景是公共空間、街頭文化、大排擋等本土文化，一個在公共空間、文化公園上生長出來的香港獨特性。

西九文化區必須跟周邊社區聯繫，不止是新發展區，亦必須和舊區有機地結合，油麻地、廟街從來就是香港文化的一部份，建立文化社區從舊區出發，文化不獨是高雅的歌劇，也可以是街頭的表演，不再要高級住宅和商廈，西九需要一個包容不同文化、階層、種族、性別從社區出發的文化公園。

報告亦解釋了現在政府在西九填海區的賣地收入已達500億，再加上數塊未脫手的地皮，收入可達1440億，在財政許可下，為何再要 高級住宅和商廈，難道文化真的不能成為我們香港人的投資呢？一定要收回成本嗎？

http://www.hab.gov.hk/wkcd/pe/chi/report4.htm

地點︰旺角街坊會陳慶社會服務中心
日期︰2007年07月27日
時間︰7pm to 10pm
參與者︰16-25歲的青年
人數︰36人

參與者設計的模型

她們努力的去創作自己的西九

投票選擇自己喜歡的東西

向大家介紹自已的想法，讓更多人了解他們的西九

參與者設計的模型之一︰(可按圖放大)

他們重視公共空間，想讓地方可以給公眾使用，使西九變一個屬於不同人的大公園

參與者設計的模型之二︰(可按圖放大)

他們重視各階層的和階，希望西九不是只成為有錢人的地方，所以希望西九有公屋和小販區。

Fruit Chan (陳果) - 餃子 (Dumplings) Shek Kip Mei石硤尾

Yuen Kin To (袁建滔) - 麥兜菠蘿油王子 (Mudull the Pineapple Bun Prince)
Tai Kok Tsui demolished area大角咀

           不少人一生都在追求望海的居所，對於四十多歲的順嫂(化名)來說海不只是她的家，也是她的工作。她的工作是由早上八時，到晚上九時，隨時候命，來回油麻地避風中的大船和岸上，協助大船補給和運送人員來回兩處 她形容現在我們的海港是︰「條河越來越細，成日都填海，越來越窄。」 

 回想二十多年時，那時西九龍還未填海，海還是很寬闊，她當時也可以在家中望海，她說︰「果陣最高都係十層高，個個都可以睇到海景」，這海景很平等，大家都可以分享。由於當時海邊是就在唐樓附近，人們可以一邊逛舊區的店舖，一邊欣賞海邊的景色，不少人也會坐船釣魚或「遊船河」。

今天，她身歷一個大轉變。 

                填海令維港變成「條河」，順嫂感受最深，十多年前，還未填海時，海面平靜，很少浪濤洶湧的日子，她今天會用「危險」來形容她的工作。她知道不少行家就因為風浪太大，而船較細，碼頭因為填海推遠很多，令人流不多，生意又很少，不少同行不想冒這 風險，便交回船牌，婦女成為大商場的清潔工，男人則成為大船上的苦力，本來住在油麻地的他們，則要搬到天水圍，每天往還市區，生活風險少了，但換上了生活質素。 順嫂只有無奈和感嘆，她不知會否有下次填海，她能否在這裏繼續生活下去。

老闆夫婦說到附近不少地方路面近年都增設了禁止上落貨的時限，他批評政府改變道路使用政策時只考慮所謂的「疏導交通」，沒有考慮到其他道路使用者和四週街舖上落貨的需要。他們都擔心「西九」發展後，交通壓力的加劇會令區內本就不足夠的上落貨空間進一步減少，影響他們的日常運作。

與他們說起「西九」文娛藝術區的發展計劃，老闆便說只粗略聽說過，不清楚具體的情況。老闆認定海旁一帶都會變成像九龍站上蓋一般的摩天大廈，把風景、空氣、甚麼都擋下來，公共空間也大概會變成他們的私家花園。

老闆不認同如今海景豪宅大商場的發展，認為這樣浪費資源，非但附近的居民無法利用，即使是中上階層的住戶也會選擇在中環、金鐘的商場購物，在九龍再多一個大商場他們也不見得會光顧。老闆娘則強調絕對不要屏風樓，應該像尖沙咀一帶般嚴格限制建築物的高度，否則只會令整個區內的人受害。

至於「西九」文娛藝術區，他們對內容沒甚麼意見，倒是認為只要入場費不要太貴，一般市民能夠負擔便可。

工作坊舉行時期+合辦團體

1. 26-3-06 PPWK
2. 10-04-06 香港大學比較文學系
3. 27-07-06 HKUST
4. 05-08-06 學友社
5. 15-08-06 HKUST MA in Liberal Studies Studies
6. 18-04-07 風采中學

暫時參與總人數︰540人

工作坊參與結果

工作坊參與結果

上圖為我們舉行工作坊的風采中學，位於北區上水清城路8號 (鄰近北區醫院)

這是同學的對西九報告， 經過討論後，大家都有不同的想法，大家都把心聲、意見寫下來

上圖，同學之間分組互相討論

下圖是同學落動手設計西九模型 ，一邊討論，一邊創作

上圖︰同學在向意見投票

上面是同學的心聲，屬於他/她們的設計，主題是”That’s What We Want”，博物館、劇場甚麼都可以不要，在他/她們眼中賽車場、人造雪場、寵物區才是真正的文娛區啊！

• 4 A班的報告

• 4B 班的報告

• 4C班的報告

• 4D 班的報告