After decades of destroying its historical heritage, Hong Kong tries to preserve what ever remains to be seen… The new Tai O Heritage Hotel in Lantau, opened last March, is the right step to promote heritage conservation and sustainable tourism in the former British colony.
HONG KONG- Heritage and Hong Kong form certainly the most unlikely marriage. The former British colony with scarce lands in its urban areas, conducted since the late sixties a systematic policy of destroying most of its historical heritage to give way to speculative developments along its shores. Old mansions and Victorian style buildings made then ways to skyscrapers, malls and offices – not always from the best architectural standard.
Even in relative recent history, Hong Kong showed no mercy to some of its most grandest old buildings: gone in 1978 was the classic Kowloon Station; the same fate was shared in 1981 by the Hong Kong Club Building, a beautiful Victorian structure and in 1982 it was the turn of the Repulse Bay Hotel, which saw celebrities such as Marlon Brando, Spain Prince Juan Carlos or Peter Seller.
A few buildings remain today from old Hong Kong in Central district around the Legislative Council building while in Kowloon, the most striking fassade is still the one from the Peninsula Hotel.
But times are changing. Since reverting to China PRC, Hong Kong people rediscovers the need for history and started recently to value again their heritage- probably as they see it as part of their roots.
Recently, the Old Tai O Police Station, built in 1902 on Lantau island, has been revitalised and converted into the ‘Tai O Heritage Hotel’, in celebration of the timeless local cultural heritage. The Old Tai O Police Station originally housed policemen posted to combat pirates who roamed the surrounding waters. As crime rates declined over the years, it ceased to operate as a police station and functioned as a patrol post from 1996 to 2002 as it just faces Mainland China maritime territories.
The Opening Ceremony was even attended by the former Chief Executive Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Donald Tsang who then declared that, “the ‘Revitalisation’ of Old Tai O Police Station contributes to the heritage conservation, community development and tourism of Tai O. It helps promote Tai O as an exclusive cultural destination for both local and overseas visitors. I wish this project can continue to engage the public in bolstering Tai O’s economy and achieve synergy with other local facilities. In addition to promoting heritage conservation, tourism and green living, this project is expected to preserve Tai O’s unique cultural tradition and give Hong Kong people and overseas tourists an impressive experience.“
The historic building in the charming fishing village of Tai O was able to conserve its unique architectural features, while modern interventions tastefully inserted. It is one of the six projects under Batch I of the Development Bureau’s Revitalising Historic Buildings with the idea of conserving 20th century colonial architecture and combining the beauty of Chinese and Western architectural styles.
The Tai O Heritage Hotel engages local communities to appreciate heritage conservation. The project contributes to the sustainable development of Tai O tourism through a series of tailor-made eco-tours and cultural experience tours. Running as a non-profit social enterprise, the Hotel has a gross floor area of 1,170 sq m, with nine colonial-style rooms and suites, establishing a publicly-accessible Heritage Interpretation Centre, an exhibition area displaying the history of the former police station and that of Tai O people.
Tai O Lookout is also a glass-roofed restaurant featuring Tai O specialties, which also showcases Hong Kong and Tai O artists’ ingenious creations. Free guided hotel tours are offered daily.
To establish a close connection between this historic site with the community and the people in Tai O, the Hotel provides employment opportunities and training to Tai O residents. Among the 16 full-time and 4 part-time staff, about half are Tai O natives. The heritage hotel is another opportunity for travellers to rediscover Hong Kong colourful past.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
