Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man says that her bureau will roll out a programme providing subsidies for owners of private buildings that are officially listed as a cultural heritage site with the aim of encouraging them to carry out regular maintenance and repairs of the buildings.
Leong made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Friday in Sai Van Lake Square on the sidelines of a traditional blessing ceremony for the ongoing “Infinite Love Marathon Concerts” event organised by her bureau.
A statement by the bureau last week noted that one of the functions of the new Cultural Development Fund, which was set up on New Year’s Day, is to financially support events or projects that are conducive to the protection of officially listed buildings or other buildings with architectural interest. The statement said that the function will help promote the regular maintenance and repairs of privately-owned historic buildings and private entities’ participation in the revitalisation of government-owned historic buildings.
The new Cultural Development Fund was established by a merger between the now-defunct Cultural Fund and Cultural Industry Fund.
Last week’s statement said that the bureau plans to roll out two subsidy programmes that will be financed by the Cultural Development Fund. The first programme will financially support owners of privately-owned listed buildings in carrying out regular maintenance and repairs of the buildings, while the second programme will financially encourage private entities to roll out revitalisation projects to be caried out in historic buildings that will promote the development of the cultural and tourism sectors.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Leong said that the beneficiaries of the first programme will be the owners of privately-owned listed buildings. If the respective buildings need maintenance or repairs, the owners will be eligible to apply for the subsidy, Leong said.
According to Leong, the beneficiaries of the second programme will be companies, organisations or associations that want to participate in the revitalisation of government-owned historic buildings and their surrounding areas and then operate the respective revitalisation projects. Leong said that the second subsidy programme aims to promote the good use of such buildings.
Leong underlined that her bureau was still studying details about the two programmes’ respective eligibility of beneficiaries, subsidy amount and coverage.
Leong was quick to add that the amount of the subsidy would depend on the natures of the respective maintenance and repair and revitalisation projects. Leong said that a project that does not cost much would be fully subsidised, while the subsidy for a big project would be capped at a maximum level.
Leong also noted that the maintenance and repairs of listed buildings are more difficult and need a higher cost compared to general buildings, because of which, she said, members of the government-appointed Cultural Heritage Council have said that they agree with the government measure to subsidise the maintenance and repairs of privately-owned listed buildings.
Iec Long revitalisation
Meanwhile, Leong also said that the partial revitalisation of the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory site in Taipa is expected to be completed at the end of this year, when the revitalised area can be open to residents.
Leong said that her bureau has already removed asbestos tiles and various other stuff from the site as well as “polluted water from the ponds” on the site, after which revitalisation work can start there.
Leong also said that her bureau will invite bids for a project to set up a walkway on the site.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man talks to reporters in Sai Van Lake Square on Friday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
