Hong Kong advocates call for better protection of pre-war building once used for spying against Japanese during World War II
- Sons of original owner of four-storey veranda-type shophouse carried out underground intelligence work during Japanese occupation, according to report
- Advocates pushing for preservation of building say structure is city’s only pre-World War II European-style building in Tsim Sha Tsui
A historic building set to be demolished in Hong Kong was used to carry out underground intelligence work against the Japanese by the sons of the original owner during the second world war, according to a group of advocates calling for its preservation.
The team, formed by experts in tourism, urban studies, architecture and history, said in a research report released on Sunday that the grade three structure in Tsim Sha Tsui, built before 1937, was the city’s only building directly related to intelligence work carried out during World War II, and among a few private buildings requisitioned by Japanese forces during the occupation between 1941 and 1945.
Located on the southeast corner of Austin Road and Nathan Road, the four-storey veranda-type shophouse is also the only pre-war European-style building of its type in Tsim Sha Tsui and one of only about 20 remaining pre-war European-style structures and tenement buildings on a street corner on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, according to the report.
“It is not just a European-style building in Tsim Sha Tsui. It has significant historical interest to Hong Kong,” said Paul Chan Chi-yuen, a member of the group who also co-founded local tourist company Walk In Hong Kong.
“We are calling for the Antiquities Advisory Board to reassess it, and classify it as a grade one historical building for better preservation.”
In 2018, the structure was classified as a grade three building under the city’s three-tier grading system for historical buildings, meaning it has some merit but did not qualify to be considered as a possible monument. Only those with grade one accreditation are considered as buildings with outstanding merit and warranting every effort to preserve them.
The property is owned by Tai Sang Land Development and is used for commercial purposes. But plans to demolish the structure were approved last year, prompting the group as well as others to call for its preservation.
