The government plans to revitalize the Central Market (left) into an "urban oasis" and turn Murray Building into a hotel, as revealled in Chief Executive Donald Tsang's annual policy address yesterday. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: The unique historical and cultural features of Hong Kong's oldest district, Central, are going to be preserved and revitalized, under a massive facelift announced during yesterday's policy address.

The Central Market, a Hong Kong fixture since the city's earliest days, will be turned into an "urban oasis". It'll be a place for white collar workers to relax by day and a new hang-out resort for tourists and local night owls after dark.

There are major plans for the Murray Building too. It will be converted into a hotel.

And the harborfront will be opened to provide more space for strollers, for recreation and for cultural activities. The density of the Central Ferry Piers sites will be reduced substantially to make way for the new, more wide-open recreational attraction.

"The mention of Central used to invoke in our minds an image of a commercial center with skyscrapers," Chief Executive Donald Tsang said. "Central is a distinctive business district endowed with rich cultural and historical heritage, which we will do our best to preserve."

The plan to revitalize the Central Market has a secondary purpose, which is to improve air quality in Central, while adding to recreational space.

Surrounded by high modern office buildings that create a natural acoustic chamber amplifying the sounds of vehicular traffic nearby, Central Market remains a hub of vitality in the center of Hong Kong, maintaining a tradition that has been almost uninterrupted over 150 years.

The light green and gray three-storey building, standing in the heart of the city's business district, looks old and shabby today and a little out of place; its small dark windows are staring vacantly outward where men in business suits and well-dressed ladies hurry on their way. Several black trash bags and boxes shroud the doorways. Clearly, the market has been closed for a long time.

Mr Chan has been running a small nest shop just opposite the Central Market for more than ten years. He likes what's coming to the old market neighborhood. "Air will become better," he said. "And it's too old now. It would be better to see it become newer and prettier."

Mr Chan thinks a new revitalized future will mean more business for his shop. Moreover, as a man who works in Central, he likes the idea of giving new life to the area. "I hope the government does a good revitalization job," he said.

"The Central Market is an indoor market which reflects the Bauhaus style of the 1930s, with streamlined shape and simplicity. It is quite rare for such a large market," said Bernard Lim, professor of architecture department of the Chinese University, who is also a member of the Antiquities Advisory Board and Town Planning Board.

"The history and characteristics of Hong Kong people's living have been integrated into this Market," he added.

The Urban Renewal Authority said the revitalization project at the Central Market will cost a lot of money because the place is so run-down.

The District Council suggested establishing a small theater and a performing venue to increase public participation, according to Stephen Chan Chit Kwai, vice chairman of Central & Western District Council.

The most important aspect of the revitalization project for the Central Market area lies in reducing the building density of the area, said Bernard Chan, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Revitalization of Historic Buildings and Antiquities Advisory Board. He believed people don't want or expect another edifice of more than 50 storeys in the already densely packed environment.

Another major project is the Murray Building, soon to become a hotel, to capitalize on its special style and premium locale. The project will go to open tender.

Work on turning it into a 300-room four or five star hotel will start in 2013 to 2014. Bernard Lim thinks the Murray Building is entirely suitable for a hotel. It's right near the peak tramway station, Hong Kong Park and other well-traveled spots. It could be a tourist attraction itself.

The 21-storey Murray Building turns its white exterior outward from the slope of Government Hill. Some important government bureaus and department headquarters are in the building now, like the Information Services Department, Development Bureau, Food and Health Bureau, etc.

The development density of the Central Ferry Piers will be reduced substantially, and the space along the waterfront will be opened up for leisure, recreational and cultural uses. The area in front of the International Financial Center II is already getting some grassland and organized roads.

The proposed revitalization of the original site of the Central School as a creative and cultural landmark has elicited an encouraging response. The government has drawn up a plan for the renovation of the two former police quarters blocks. Donald Tsang said the government will invite interested organizations and enterprises to submit proposals for operating creative industries in the old buildings over the next few months.

About the revitalization project of Central Police Station Compound, the government in conjunction with the Hong Kong Joceky Club, which is responsible for this particular project, will announce and implement an improved design for revitalization shortly.

The government is open to suggestions on the future use of the French Mission Building, a declared monument where the court of Final Appeal is now housed. The Court of Final Appeal will move to the existing Legislative Council Building, after the relocation of the Council to its new office site at Tamar.

Professor Bernard Lim said the series of revitalization projects in Central is every important. "A financial Center, or CBD, must have ancient architectural culture," he said.

(HK Edition 10/15/2009 page1)