HK Jockey Club Funds for Conserving Historic Site As New Cultural Icon

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Thursday to fund 1.8 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 232.42 million U.S. dollars) for conserving and renovating Central Police Station, a historic compound in the center of Hong Kong Island.

Through the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the club will fund the capital to refurbish the 19th-century compound and transform it into a heritage, arts, cultural, and tourism hub that will become a new iconic destination for Hong Kong.

Executive Director of the Charities of the Hong Kong Jockey Club William Y. Yiu told press that the conservation plan will consist of a balanced mix of cultural, heritage and commercial elements in order to create a land mark attraction for local residents and overseas visitors.

The buildings will be restored for adaptive reuse, commercially as well as for cultural and heritage purposes to display and interpret the site's unique history, he said.

On the upper platform area of the station, a cultural complex will be built that will include a 500-seat auditorium, a 500-seat theater, two art cinemas, a gallery, a multipurpose exhibition space and supporting facilities, he added.

Hong Kong Secretary for Development Carrie Lam welcomed the revitalizing proposal and expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposal fully realizes the spirit of the adaptive reuse scheme for historic buildings, so as to transform these buildings into local cultural icons. The proposal is also in line with the vision of the Chief Executive on heritage conservation," Lam said at the conference.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will make the site available to the Hong Kong Jockey Club under a lease and an agreement setting out specific terms and conditions.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman John C. C. Chan said the club was proud to present this "as gift to the people of Hong Kongin celebration of the HKSAR's 10th anniversary."

"Our planned mixture of commercial and cultural usage will ensure the vibrancy of the entire area, transforming a heritage site into a family destination for locals and visitors," Chan added.