Free public exhibition brings Club's Central Police Station proposal to life

10 December 2007

Fulfilling its promise to stage a comprehensive, six-month public consultation exercise on its HK$1.8 billion plan to conserve and revitalise the historic Central Police Station Compound, The Hong Kong Jockey Club tomorrow (11 December) will launch the first of a series of initiatives to explain the proposal in more detail: an exhibition at the Hong Kong Racing Museum entitled Conservation & Revitalisation - the Central Police Station Compound.

Through a series of photographs, videos, architectural plans, and site and process models, the exhibition takes visitors through the fascinating history of the compound - parts of which are more than 160 years old - before showing the present status of the buildings and how the Club plans to restore and inject new life into them for the public's enjoyment. The exhibition is aimed at bringing the proposal to life and giving local residents a feeling of the ambience and atmosphere that will be created by the revitalisation.

Speaking at today's opening ceremony, the Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges observed that although the Club's proposal had attracted a huge amount of media interest, the public had only had a limited opportunity so far to see the plans in detail and to understand the rationale behind them. "Furthermore, we are keen to hear the public's views on this important project so that we can ensure it best meets the needs and expectations of the people of Hong Kong," he said. "We hope that as many local residents as possible will visit this exhibition and then let us have their comments."

The Club believes that Hong Kong, as an international city blessed with a unique history and rich 'East meets West' cultural influences, has the opportunity to make its own mark in global heritage conservation. "We hope that our proposal will not only bring a positive outcome for conserving and revitalising the Central Police Station Compound, but also spark wider community discussions on how Hong Kong could make best use of its heritage assets," Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges commented.

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, said at the ceremony that the Club's revitalisation proposal for the Central Police Station Compound came most timely as the Government was committed to pressing ahead with sustainable and innovative heritage conservation work in Hong Kong. "The cluster of historic buildings in the Central Police Station Compound contains rich heritage value and has great potential to become a cultural landmark for the enjoyment of local people and overseas visitors," she said.

Mrs Lam thanked The Hong Kong Jockey Club for its commitment to conserve and revitalise this historic compound and welcomed the exhibition as an effective way to gauge public opinion on the details of the proposal.  She hoped the public could render their support to the project and offered constructive comments to the Club for further refining the proposal.

Also joining today's ceremony were architects Pierre de Meuron and Ascan Mergenthaler, whose firm Herzog & de Meuron have conceptualised the Central Police Station revitalisation plan. Herzog & de Meuron has also been responsible for several other acclaimed heritage projects overseas including the Tate Modern in London, formerly a power station.

The Club also launched today a new website, www.centralpolicestation.org.hk, which will allow the public to understand the project in further detail.  Members of the public can leave their comments on a feedback form provided on this website, or submit their views by completing a questionnaire at the exhibition and dropping it into a suggestions box. A roving exhibition featuring the proposal will also be launched in early 2008.

Conservation & Revitalisation - the Central Police Station Compound will be open to the public from now until early May 2008, shortly after the consultation period ends on 10 April 2008. Admission is free. The Hong Kong Racing Museum is located on the second floor of the Happy Valley Stand at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wong Nai Chung Road (opposite the end of Queen's Road East), and is open on Tuesdays to Sundays and most Public Holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. During day race meetings at Happy Valley, it opens from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm only. For enquiries, please contact the Racing Museum on (852) 2966 8065.

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