This dissertation focuses on the personal layers of meaning attached to a heritage site, using the case study of Hong Kong’s old Central Police Station (CPS). It is a way to enhance the understanding of the site in a way that goes beyond the scope of ‘official’ records and histories, such as those found in conservation reports, government documents, etc. These documents focus heavily on the significant historical stories attached to the site and the site’s formal architectural qualities as a way to understanding the heritage values of the place. However, this ignores the fact that a site such as the CPS was not built as an historical artefact or as a grand architectural monument. Rather, the CPS had a functional purpose: as a site of work. This dissertation therefore uncovers the meanings attached to the CPS as a site of work, through an understanding of the socio-historical experiences of the site. This is based on both theoretical and practical research. The theoretical research outlines an overarching theory of ‘heritage place’ – as a result of human interaction with space – as based on the philosophies of Martin Heidegger and Henri Lefebvre, the geographical writings of Carl O. Sauer and Allan Pred, and the cultural heritage theory of Laurajane Smith. This theory is rooted in the phenomenological method, which is founded upon an understanding and description of human experience. The practical component of this dissertation draws upon 10 interviews I conducted with former staff of the CPS, which led me to understand the memories and experiences attached to the site. I then present a synthesis of the theoretical and the practical arms of the research as a way to understand the heritage meanings of the CPS as a living, functional site (not as historical artefact). Ultimately, the research presented in this dissertation is an attempt to guide conservation thinking in Hong Kong away from static and esoteric understanding of heritage significance as rooted in esoteric and largely impersonal qualities of history and aesthetics, and towards an understanding of heritage significance as rooted in humans’ interactions with their environment. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

It is good news to see that Hong Kong has adopted the adaptive reuse approach in conserving historical buildings through projects under the Revitalisation Scheme. The bad news is that due to the absence of well-founded locally relevant principles and guidelines, almost all of these projects have brought about fierce quarrels among different groups of professionals. In particular the quarrel between conservation professionals, who try to adopt international best practices in conservation, and government officials, who are responsible for regulating and enforcing fire safety codes consistently in all buildings, regardless they are new or historical. In the past, some conservation architects have queried about the possibility of applying for exemption from the fire codes in conserving historical buildings through adaptive reuse. Today, conservation professionals and government officials have accepted that there is little room for compromise regarding the application of the fire codes in the adaptive reuse of historical buildings, as the codes are about ensuring the safety of occupants as well as protecting the heritage property from fire. Conservation professionals are now looking into ways of applying the fire codes in adaptive reuse projects. Now that the Revitalisation Scheme has been in operation for six year with a number of projects successfully completed, it presents the author the opportunity to examine the fire-code application of these completed projects to develop references based on precedent case-studies. Such references would be useful to professionals in adaptive reuse projects (as conservation consultants, project managers, architects and engineers) in facilitating the planning and design of the adaptive reuse in terms of meeting the fire codes. This research is to study the application for relaxation of, and exemption from, the prescribed fire safety codes by adopting fire engineering approach in adaptive re-use of Old Tai O Police Station into Tai O Heritage Hotel. Tai O Heritage Hotel is the first and so far the only hotel premises of the Government. Besides, it’s the first historic buildings in Batch I of the Revitalisation Scheme with capital cost funded by the Government. It is a great challenge to equip a 110 years old historic building with modern fire safety provisions and installations. By demonstrating the ways of appropriate means in application of fire engineering approach in fire safety in historic building, procedure and assistance which can be given by Government Departments in facilitating the revitalisation works, it can provide platform for future discussions, or a model for future adaptive re-use projects under the Revitalisation Scheme. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

The government plans to redevelop Tai O into a tourist spot. Recently, the government is seeking strategies to maintain the existing community of Tai O and retain the cultural heritage, natural environment and local economy of the place. This will shift Tai O’s major economy from fishing to tourism. The stilt houses are an important element of the history and the fishing village character of Tai O. Under the Government plan, all stilt houses in Tai O will be kept as one main tourism attraction, however the Government does not have intention to help the residents in the ongoing maintenance of the stilt houses. The conditions of the stilt houses for most of the households, especially the elderly need to be improved. If the vulnerable states of the stilt houses are not well-identified, they could soon fall apart and disappear within our generation. This should force us to consider the preservation of the stilt house. Also, with the rebuilding project ahead, some signs of history will disappear if not controlled and conserved. As such the vulnerable factors need to be identified and suggestions are needed for the preservation purpose. In order to thoroughly understand the vulnerable factors of the stilt houses, interviews with residents and members from Tai O Rural Committee, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Tai O Alliance Church and Tai O Residents’ Rights Concern Group were carried out in order to seek their views on the vulnerable factors of the stilt house and their opinion towards Tai O stilt house development and cultural & heritage conservation. The dissertation is as attempt to address key queries such as: – Impact on Tai O stilt house resulted from disaster, natural degradation and Government policy – Human impact relating to the stilt house, including depopulation, environmental condition and tourist – Opinions regarding improving Tai O stilt house from residents – Future of Tai O Stilt house. For the development of the Tai O stilt house, the opinion of local residents and actual situation in Tai O should be considered. In view of better development of stilt house in Tai O, cooperation and compromise between Government, Tai O Rural Committee, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Tai O Alliance Church, Tai O Residents’ Rights Concern Group and residents would be more constructive for stilt house in Tai O. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning

published_or_final_version / Geography / Master / Master of Philosophy

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