Star proposes putting historic houses under Tsing Ma Bridge
Vivienne Chow 28 February 2009
Movie star Jackie Chan has rejected two sites proposed by the government for his collection of historic sandalwood houses and suggested an alternative location under the Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei‐chun said yesterday.
Mr. Tien urged the government to take up the matter because the conservation of the historic houses was a social responsibility rather than a tourism project.
Mr. Tien said the government had offered land in Diamond Hill and Whitehead, Sha Tin, at a tourism board meeting with Chan and his representatives yesterday morning after the movie star repeatedly criticised the government’s slow response to 10 years of offering to donate the houses, which he said prompted him to offer the houses and his movie memorabilia to Singapore.
Chan rejected the proposed sites, Mr. Tien said, because the land in Diamond Hill would only be available in 2015 and the land in Whitehead was too remote.
Mr. Tien said that Chan counter‐proposed a location under the Tsing Ma Bridge.
“He hoped that the government could give him an answer quickly,” Mr. Tien said. “But Chan also had other conditions for his donation. He wanted the government to offer the land for free and to pay for the cost of putting these houses together.”
No estimation of the construction cost had been made, he said.
Mr. Tien said that if the government could come to terms with Chan, Hong Kong could have a maximum of five of the nine items in Chan’s collection, which features seven houses, each over 3,000 sq ft, a pavilion and a stage.
He said that one of the houses had already gone to Shanghai and Chan had agreed to donate three or four to Singapore. “Only the fate of the remaining four to five of them has yet to be decided,” Mr. Tien said.
A Commerce and Economic Development Bureau spokesman said that at yesterday’s meeting, the tourism board had understood Chan’s desire to keep the historic houses in Hong Kong and his hope for government support.
He said the government would study the viability of the proposal and get back to Chan soon.
Mr. Tien said the Ming Dynasty houses were extremely valuable and would be great tourism attractions.
However, the preservation and conservation of heritage or national treasures should be the Home Affairs Bureau’s responsibility.
“The government should take up this project. It’s a social responsibility to preserve these treasures and stop them from being shipped to Singapore,” Mr. Tien said. “This should not be the Tourism Board’s decision. This project is not just about appealing to tourists. The conservation of these treasures is way more important than attracting tourists.”
Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak‐sing told a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting yesterday that the government was “highly concerned” about Chan’s proposed donation. But he admitted there were difficulties involving the time required for a proposal asking for land and public money.
But he did not address the possibility of an alternative that could speed up procedures so as to preserve historic treasures and promote Hong Kong.
Mr. Tsang said the government would continue negotiating with Chan.
Tourism sector lawmaker Paul Tse Wai‐chun urged the government to act quickly.
“It only took Singapore seven days to give Chan an answer. But this could take Hong Kong seven years, or even 70,” he said.
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Jackie Chan rejects two sites offered
Star proposes putting historic houses under Tsing Ma Bridge
Vivienne Chow
28 February 2009
Movie star Jackie Chan has rejected two sites proposed by the government for his collection of historic sandalwood houses and suggested an alternative location under the Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei‐chun said yesterday.
Mr. Tien urged the government to take up the matter because the conservation of the historic houses was a social responsibility rather than a tourism project.
Mr. Tien said the government had offered land in Diamond Hill and Whitehead, Sha Tin, at a tourism board meeting with Chan and his representatives yesterday morning after the movie star repeatedly criticised the government’s slow response to 10 years of offering to donate the houses, which he said prompted him to offer the houses and his movie memorabilia to Singapore.
Chan rejected the proposed sites, Mr. Tien said, because the land in Diamond Hill would only be available in 2015 and the land in Whitehead was too remote.
Mr. Tien said that Chan counter‐proposed a location under the Tsing Ma Bridge.
“He hoped that the government could give him an answer quickly,” Mr. Tien said. “But Chan also had other conditions for his donation. He wanted the government to offer the land for free and to pay for the cost of putting these houses together.”
No estimation of the construction cost had been made, he said.
Mr. Tien said that if the government could come to terms with Chan, Hong Kong could have a maximum of five of the nine items in Chan’s collection, which features seven houses, each over 3,000 sq ft, a pavilion and a stage.
He said that one of the houses had already gone to Shanghai and Chan had agreed to donate three or four to Singapore. “Only the fate of the remaining four to five of them has yet to be decided,” Mr. Tien said.
A Commerce and Economic Development Bureau spokesman said that at yesterday’s meeting, the tourism board had understood Chan’s desire to keep the historic houses in Hong Kong and his hope for government support.
He said the government would study the viability of the proposal and get back to Chan soon.
Mr. Tien said the Ming Dynasty houses were extremely valuable and would be great tourism attractions.
However, the preservation and conservation of heritage or national treasures should be the Home Affairs Bureau’s responsibility.
“The government should take up this project. It’s a social responsibility to preserve these treasures and stop them from being shipped to Singapore,” Mr. Tien said. “This should not be the Tourism Board’s decision. This project is not just about appealing to tourists. The conservation of these treasures is way more important than attracting tourists.”
Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak‐sing told a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting yesterday that the government was “highly concerned” about Chan’s proposed donation. But he admitted there were difficulties involving the time required for a proposal asking for land and public money.
But he did not address the possibility of an alternative that could speed up procedures so as to preserve historic treasures and promote Hong Kong.
Mr. Tsang said the government would continue negotiating with Chan.
Tourism sector lawmaker Paul Tse Wai‐chun urged the government to act quickly.
“It only took Singapore seven days to give Chan an answer. But this could take Hong Kong seven years, or even 70,” he said.
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