CA urges CE to investigate King Yin Lei Incident

The Conservancy Association (CA) will write to CE to urge for an explanation for the recent news report that the former owner of King Yin Lei wrote to the Administration in April this year to discuss how to preserve the mansion, but was ignored. CA will also press the Administration to implement a ‘transfer of development right’ (TDR) scheme. This kind of scheme can preserve privately-owned heritage and prevent owners from any real economic losses. 

CA received the reply of our petition letter dated 13^th September from the Development Bureau. The replying letter stated that ‘the Administration would improve current heritage conservation policy, input more resource on heritage conservation, and conduct more comprehensive and in-depth consultation among different sectors.’ CA welcomes the Administration’s undertakings in the letter to be implemented. We hope that the Administration can implement concrete measures shortly, such as TDR. 

Indeed, the Administration has already agreed that ‘transfer of development right’ is feasible. The former Secretary for Planning and Lands John Tsang, now the Financial Secretary, stated in 2001 that ‘TDR scheme is to create a win-win situation’ and ‘the Administration will be consulting the public in the near future on the entire scheme (John Tsang’s speech: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200112/18/1218098.htm). However, six years later, the Administration has done nothing to implement the scheme and missed the chance to keep King Yin Lei intact. The Administration cannot shun its responsibility on this incident. 

CA urges the Administration to introduce TDR scheme and implement it as soon as possible after genuine public engagement exercises. However, CA would boycott any sham consultation or any delaying tactics employed by the Administration just like those in 2004 and early 2007.