'Consult Public On Post Office Demolition Plan'

Conservationists are pressing for a public consultation on plans to tear down the General Post Office in Central.

The prominent structure, opened in 1976, faces the wrecking ball after authorities announced last year that it would be demolished to make way for a new Grade-A office building.

That was the latest addition to a HK$12 billion plan to transform the Central harbourfront to provide upmarket office space, a large pedestrian deck, public space and a mix of hotel and retail facilities in the heart of the city.

But the Alliance on Protection of Harbourfront said the government did not include the demolition proposal when it gauged public views on the transformation plan a decade ago.

Members of the alliance put their demands to the government as the Lands Department held a meeting to hear the public's thoughts on road works at the site.

One of its members, former planning sector lawmaker Edward Yiu, says it's time for the administration to devise a new mechanism for preserving modern structures like the General Post Office.

“It is quite young, just about 40 years old, and the structure is very good, and now it functions well. In Central, we require a post office and also it is a very nice, modern architecture," he said.

"So my point is, in recent years, we found that many people would like to preserve modern architecture, including cinema as well as the Garden Bakery Factory”, Yiu said.

He urged the government to put the controversial demolition plan on hold till it obtained the public's opinion on it. Yiu told RTHK's Joanne Wong that government should adopt a new way of evaluating modern buildings.