King Ying Lei Declared as Proposed Monument
Greater Efforts on Heritage Conservation Still Needed

(14 Sept 2007) The Administration today declared King Yin Lei as a Proposed Monument. The Conservancy Association (CA) Chairperson Betty Ho Siu-fong welcomed the decision and commended the Secretary for Development Carrie Lam's move as decisive. Although the decision is belated, at least the structure of the old mansion can be preserved.

CA reiterates that the incident reveals current policy and mechanism are not effective in preserving heritage, especially privately owned buildings. The Building Ordinance simply cannot prevent intentional damages inflicted on heritage buildings as the purpose of the ordinance is to ensure public safety, which should not be used to replace a full-fledged heritage conservation policy. Nothing could prevent similar buildings from demolition if a fair and transparent grading and compensation mechanism was not implemented. CA hopes that the Administration immediately introduce a new heritage conservation policy to amend the current loopholes.

King Yin Lei before disfigurement