weekly
Written by: Lin Jiaqi
2019-11-25 07:00
Last updated date: 2019-11-25 07:00"You said that the response is poor. (Government) does not need to be responsible for it? The government does not have no money. The property itself is responsible for it and can be used for it. The monuments are not antiques, nor are they famous wines. The more they are, the more resistant they are." There is always a need for social value, and it is useless to lose the air." Li Shaowen, senior public affairs manager of the Changchun Society, confessed a lot of allegations of the government's outsourcing responsibility for the government.
In 2008, the Government launched the "Historical Partner Revitalization Scheme" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), inviting non-profit-making social enterprises to undertake the historic buildings of the Government, renovating and revitalizing them into valuable cultural landmarks. The government's outsourcing of rehabilitation and activation projects can reduce public funds.
The Fangyuan Bookstore in Ma Wan is one of the first projects to be revitalized by the "Plan". It was revitalized by the Social Services Department of Yuen Yuen Institute into the Tourism and Education Centre and the Ma Wan Shui Lu Residents Museum. The bookstore was awarded a Grade III historic building in 2010 and opened in 2013. Due to operational difficulties, the operation was only four years, and Yuan Xuan College eventually returned the project to the government.
As a result, the Fangyuan Bookroom became the only project in the revitalization plan that stopped working. In the eyes of others, that may indicate the failure of the activation plan, but the architect who participated in the project, Xiaowen Xiao, smiled slightly: "Probably it can survive, it can be considered a success."
Undertake the above:
[Historical conservation. A] From the excavation to the disappearance of those Hong Kong stories buried in the bricks and tiles
[Historical conservation. Second] rating the useless history of Hong Kong monuments
Fangyuan Bookstore is the first batch of "Historical Partner Revitalization Plan" project, but it was closed due to people flow problems after less than four years of operation. (Photo by Gong Hui)
"The fish is in good condition, but the water is not healthy."
Everyone says that sparse population is a death. Yuen Yuen College was expected to have about 27,000 people in the first three years of the bookstore. But as of the time of the suspension, the bookstore had only about 3,700 visitors per year, far below expectations. The scarcity of visitors is the result. The main reason is that the book room is located in Mawan. It is not enough for transportation facilities or promotion.
Yan Wentao uses the relationship between fish and water to compare the Fangyuan Book Room with the area of Mawan. "The water is healthy and the fish is healthy. Now the fish is in good condition, but the water is not healthy." He explained that Ma Wan is located in a remote island. Who will take more than an hour to take a boat for a bookstore that can be read in five minutes?" The conservation project is to do the regional planning and publicity education of the entire island. The plan is to be linked to the surrounding attractions. It is not enough to support the development of a monument. "You can't just think about the fish, not the water."
The Government's "2012 Practical Manual for Revitalization and Alteration and Addition of Cultural Relics and Historic Buildings" and "Responsible Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers Preparing for Exams - Conservation of Historic Buildings" are essential references for the renovation of historic buildings. Guidelines, however, all kinds of equipment that cooperate with fire safety have damaged the original appearance of historic buildings.
After the activation, the Fangyuan Book Room added fire-fighting equipment, but it was awkward. (Photo by Gong Hui)
Taking Fangyuan Book Room as an example, the red fire pump is located directly beside the main entrance of the book room, which is in sharp contrast with the outer wall of the book room Yabai. From an aesthetic point of view, it is not suitable. Inside the book, the pipe is interspersed between the wall and the ceiling. Under the decoration of the 1920s, a pile of fire-fighting devices installed to comply with the Buildings Ordinance was installed. Yan Wenying bluntly said that these are not what they did, but the design of the first-hand architect. If you change it to be handled today, you will definitely negotiate with the relevant departments to find out where there is room for relaxation. It is a pity that the first-hand architect has spent most of his money in setting up lifts, air-conditioning and fire-fighting facilities in the library. When the project is handed over to him, the funds are not enough to activate the first floor of the library. As a result, the entire library can be activated. After halving, the attraction is also drastically reduced.
It was not long before the return of the government to the Fangyuan Bookstore. He had accepted other media interviews. He said that he had to become a "question maker" (questioner) before the conservation and revitalization project. He had good communication with the operating agencies and asked them what they wanted. What is the goal?
"Why do you want to conserve it? You can't say that it is because of old care, you can no longer use KPI (key performance indicators) standards for conservation. Conservation is sometimes nothing.
"Activation can sometimes be no reason"
Behind the "No Why" is the respect for the original history of the building. Speaking about the Murray House in Garden Road, Central, the building was relocated in Stanley after being demolished in 1982. "What is it in the end? H&M (large chain fashion brand), posing German food. My question Yes, why not build a museum? Visitors now have nothing to do in Stanley, and there is nothing to watch. Most of them go to the street (street stalls) to paint ghosts and phoenixes. This is our deep-rooted KPI culture. Useful and valuable, in fact activation can be for no reason.” He continued, “The pyramid does not have a function, but why should it be left behind and conserved? Because its symbolic meaning is practical.”
If the city is empty, it is not entirely true. Tourism has always been one of the four major industries in Hong Kong and a major driving force for economic development. A multi-faceted city will make the tourism industry flourish, but Hong Kong has a perverted tourism industry. Yan Wenzhao said frankly, "80% of the consumers only want to see the prosperous side of Hong Kong. After finishing the Golden Bauhinia Card, it is enough to buy the wine and watch the Victorian waterfront." In his eyes, the number of visitors to Hong Kong is no. What is more important is to attract some tourists who appreciate the beauty of the city.
80% of the consumers only want to see the prosperous side of Hong Kong, after finishing the Golden Bauhinia card, after buying the wine, it is enough to watch the Victorian waterfront.
Hong Kong lacks not only such passengers, but also a group of people who truly understand the charm of the city. When he mentioned the high-speed rail, he noticed the Hong Kong Tourism Board's promotional video. There is an Italian chef in the film. There are many celebrities like Cai Wei who are enjoying the food. "The curve says that Hong Kong's food culture is good, but the film uses a foreigner. Can broadcasting in the Mainland cause resonance among mainlanders? It should be followed by "China on the tip of the tongue" to produce a Hong Kong version."
Architect Yu Wentao admits that there are not many people who appreciate the beauty of Hong Kong and promote it. (photo by Gao Zhongming)
He described these propaganda methods as "catching the wrong use of God" - the government is accustomed to public relations and marketing companies, but a city cannot be regarded as an ordinary commercial product. "We have not played the most beautiful side of the city. Hong Kong does not need to stop." To sell a selling point, because this is the propaganda method of the second and third tier cities. We have a lot of stories, even if it is already beautiful, but our (promotional strategy) is still stuck in sailing, sneaky, other cities like South Korea are not looking for Old (promotional), but looking for Korean women's groups."
We have not played the most beautiful side of the city. Hong Kong does not need to stop selling a selling point because it is the propaganda method of second- and third-tier cities. We have a lot of stories, even sitting here is already beautiful.
The Fangyuan Book Room, which has been closed, has once again become an activation project at the end of the year. It may become a museum again, or a place like Lei Shengchun that has become a use for other purposes.
If you ask again, you will choose how to plan the entire conservation project. He gives a different answer: "Let it be underuse directly. It used to be a book room, then continue to do the book room, but Inviting speakers, people are willing to take the time to go in and stay in Ma Wan for a long time." This is what Mr. Yan believes, "do not talk about KPI". 
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The above is published in the 189th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly (November 18, 2019) "Who is talking about the success or failure of the Fangfang Book Room".
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Statutory Monuments, Ancient Consultation, Antiquities and Monuments Office, Revitalization Hall, In-depth Report, 01 Weekly
