Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme

The Revitalising Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme (Chinese: 活化歷史建築夥伴計劃) is an initiative launched by the Hong Kong Government, part of a broader policy of Heritage conservation in Hong Kong.

In order to preserve and put historic buildings into good use and promote public participation in conserving historic buildings, the Hong Kong Government has chosen Government-owned buildings for adaptive reuse under the Scheme.

Scope

Batch I

Batch I of the Scheme included seven buildings:

• Old Tai Po Police Station, built in 1899, Grade II historic building
• Lui Seng Chun in Mong Kok, built in 1931, Grade I historic building
• Lai Chi Kok Hospital in Lai Chi Kok, built in 1921-1924, Grade III historic building
• North Kowloon Magistracy in Sham Shui Po, built in 1960, Not yet graded (Later Grade II)
• Old Tai O Police Station, built in 1902, Grade III (Now Graded as Grade II)
• Fong Yuen Study Hall in Ma Wan, built in 1920–1930, Not yet graded (Now Grade III)
• Mei Ho House in Sham Shui Po, built in 1954, Grade I (Now Grade II)

Batch II

Batch II of the Scheme included the following buildings:

• Old Tai Po Police Station (Re-launch)
• The Blue House Cluster in Wan Chai
  • Blue House, built in 1923-1925, Grade I
  • Yellow House at Nos. 2-8 Hing Wan Street, built in 1922-1925, Grade II
  • Orange House at No. 8 King Sing Street, built in 1957, Not yet graded
• Former Fanling Magistracy in Fanling, built in 1960, Not yet graded (now graded as Grade III)
• Old House in Wong Uk Village, built in 1911, Declared Monument
• Stone Houses No. 31-35 Hau Wong Temple New Village, Junction Road, built in 1937-1957, Not yet graded (now graded as Grade III)

Batch III

Batch III of the Scheme includes the following buildings:

• Former Fanling Magistracy (Re-launch)
• Bridges Street Market at No. 2 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, built in 1953, Grade III
• Haw Par Mansion at No. 15A Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay, built in 1933 – 1935, Declared Monument
• King Yin Lei at No. 45 Stubbs Road, Wan Chai, built in 1937, Declared Monument

Batch IV

Batch IV of the Scheme includes the following buildings:

• No.12 School Street
• Old Dairy Farm Senior Staff Quarters
• Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre
• King Yin Lei (Re‐launch)

Selection process

Eligible applicants are non-profit making organisations with charitable status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112) and joint ventures of non-profit making organisations.

Applicants submitted proposals for using these buildings to provide services or business in the form of social enterprise. Submissions included detailed plans to show how:

• the historic buildings would be preserved;
• their historical significance be brought out effectively;
• the social enterprise would operate in terms of financial viability; and
• the local community would benefit.

The Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings(ACRHB), chaired by Bernard Charnwut Chan, would then assess the proposals and choose the bidding winner.

Announcement of result

The Scheme started in February 2008, and a total of 114 applications from non-profit-making organisations were received for the seven Batch I historic buildings under the Scheme. The Development Bureau announced the results on 17 February 2009.