Tsang Tai Uk, a Hakka walled village in Sha Tin, is listed on Hong Kong's Grade I historic buildings. China Daily

HONG KONG: After more than a decade of study, more than 200 buildings has been given top level heritage value and may be protected by the government, but a final list of such buildings may be months away and still requires a public consultation. An expert group of the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) tracked 8,800 buildings between 1996 and 2000 and shortlisted 1,444 with higher heritage values. The group of historians, architects, planners and engineers assessed the list according to six criteria, including historical interest, architectural merit, group value, social value and local interest, authenticity and rarity.

"It's the first time for such large scale of assessment, which is a big step to heritage preservation," said Bernard Chan, Chairman of Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB).

A total of 212 buildings could be listed as Grade I, 366 as Grade II and 576 as Grade III. Some 290 on the list received no grading.

Grade I buildings have outstanding merit and every effort should be made to preserve them. Grade II buildings, with special merit, deserve selective preservation efforts while alternative means could be considered if preservation is impracticable for Grade III buildings.

"The past grading was done some 20 years ago, during which the buildings might experience changes to reduce its completeness and authenticity. All these affect the grading," said Tom Ming, the AMO's Executive Secretary.

The Peninsula Hotel, for example, was listed as Grade I. The hotel is still in operation and requires expansion or renovation. That's why, Ming said, some historical buildings may not be kept intact and the administration will be flexible in its judgment.

Chan emphasized that the expert panel only works out the preliminary classification as a basis for public consultation and the final judgment may require more information.

Since 70 percent of the buildings on the list are privately owned, the owners may have more proof for a higher or lower grade. Some buildings may have been associated with historical events that the AMO does not know about. Still, Chan said the expert panel will have greater impact on the final grading owing to its technical analysis.

The list of proposed grade I buildings, if approved by the AAB, will be considered as a pool of highly valuable heritage buildings for the Antiquities Authority to select as monuments and put under statutory protection. Grade I buildings may also enjoy priority in receiving funding support from the government for revitalization and the government may also deal with the owners to preserve the buildings as it did with King Yin Lei last year.

The new owner of the Chinese style mansion planned to dismantle it but the government listed it as proposed monument and later protected it by exchanging land with the owner.

AAB member Greg Wong said classifying 212 buildings as Grade I can help preserve the buildings. He said the government will be alerted about the historical value of these buildings when deciding whether to approve changes to their structures.

The AAB will consult the public and District Councils on the assessment in the next four months and then review its findings. A finalized list can be expected in September at the earliest.