local
The General Post Office in Central
Heritage on the harbourfront
Yasmin Hingun listens in on the debate over General Post Office’s impending demolition What’s the issue? The destruction of the General Post Office (GPO) at Central Harbourfront is slated for the third quarter of this year; citizens say that its demolition is unnecessary, and have raised concerns over how the site will subsequently be used. The 1.5 million square feet of the GPO site’s prime harbourfront space, known as Site 3, has currently been gazetted off in preparation for construction. In response, conservation watchdog Docomoco International listed the GPO on its Heritage in Danger list, and lawmakers brought to attention the importance of older buildings to Hong Kong’s collective history.
What concern groups are saying “The GPO is an excellent functional building of modernist, almost brutalist, architecture,” adds John Batten of the Central and Western Concern Group. “It should be retained while its surroundings can be landscaped [into a] public garden space.” An argument in favour of Site 3’s development is the lack of A-Grade office space on the island. Batten counters that
12 | hongkongliving.com
The GPO is an excellent, functional building of modernist, almost brutalist architecture
Sustainable development NGO Designing Hong Kong released a statement expressing similar concerns regarding public benefits. “Will the parks, podium and balconies be truly open to the public?” questions the statement. “Will commuters on their way to and from the ferry piers be forced through shopping malls? How much of the property will be available for public enjoyment of the harbour views?”
An alternative outcome A-grade office space exists around Hong Kong. “With West Kowloon and the opening of borders near Shenzhen, office accommodation will expand. Site 3 is just a small area compared to these other potential office areas.” Yet others say that, history aside, the GPO’s visual appeal remains debatable. “Like many government proposals the more pressing issue is often what will replace the existing building,” Batten replies. “A highrise shopping and office building will replace the GPO - this is unnecessary intrusion into an area better used for public recreation. The GPO could be the centre of a revived recreational area.”
Designing Hong Kong has suggested that bidders for Site 3 should not be chosen based on buying power, but on the quality of their design idea for the coveted space. Moreover, the NGO’s statement included a design idea for Site 3 which featured plenty of public garden space as well as the preservation of the GPO. “With a suggested government surplus for last year of $120 billion, this area can be used for the greater public benefit rather than a retail or commercial site sold to the private sector,” says Batten. “The best outcome would be a park, mixed in with cafes and recreational areas. The GPO could be at the centre of a revived recreational area.” M