<TPB housing plan creeps into Dragon Kiln conservation area; revitalization plans seriously under threat>
2019 Jan 11
城規會早前公布的屯門分區計劃大綱草圖中，反映當局決定拆卸培愛舊址，並奪去龍窯保育範圍作興建住宅用地。此舉對全港唯一結構完整的龍窯的結構、保育及安全造成威脅，更扼殺再度活化龍窯的可能性。
香港龍窯關注組今於立法會召開記者會，抗議早前公布的屯門分區計劃大綱草圖中，佔用龍窯保育範圍建屋的決定。關注組對政府沒有接納他們去年的建議感到失望，亦擔心工程會對龍窯造成嚴重破壞，讓香港失去寶貴的歷史文物。
立法會議員鄺俊宇指出：「我理解政府希望覓地興建更多住宅，但政府的選址無疑是一個短視的決定。政府的計劃會令香港錯過一個珍貴的機會去發展文化、歷史建築。」
香港龍窯關注組副主席劉琬珊不滿政府做法：「今日關注組將會舉行記者招待會，回應屯門分區規劃大綱草圖對龍窯的影響。我們對於政府並無接納「保龍窯 留學校」的活化計劃書感到極度失望，及尤其關注政府在往後的建屋計劃，並無法提供有效的保護措施，以確保歷史建築不受影響。」
根據草圖，當局將在龍窯的距離只有三十米外建築樓高42層的樓宇，當中涉及拆卸及打椿等工程，對脆弱的龍窯構成極大的威脅，有機會令其結構受損，直接影響龍窯的安危，可能令香港失去現存唯一結構完整的龍窯。
關注組成員唐嘉汶質疑當局考慮不足：「我們對政府不發展龍窯的決定表示歡迎，可是在龍窯30米外又打椿、又拆樓，龍窯的結構及安危明顯受到威脅。」 另外， 草圖並沒有清晰交待建屋用地的界線及大廈的位置及大小，也不清楚將會利用那種打椿的方法，關注組認為城規會應澄清細節，釋除公眾的疑惑。
去年關注組提出了建議書，希望將培愛學校舊址結合龍窯活化成集社區功能、藝術及保育於一身的「陶瓷社區中心」，為人口不斷增長的屯門區創造一個文化地標，並教育市民本港鮮為人知的工業及陶藝歷史。 屯門區議員譚駿賢提出：「我對政府一意孤行表示遺憾。此外，我們對城規會完全沒有聽取關注組的建議，包括在青山龍窯一帶建立『living museum』 及陶藝教育中心等隻字不提感到可惜。一旦建屋工程落實，當局應在有關工程開始前，與關注組等人士協商，冀可在新建築物中，落實上述有關建議，讓保育龍窯之餘，也可為地區帶來一度人文與藝術風景。」
關注組另一名副主席楊雪盈要求政府盡快交代：「政府一定要交出工程龍窯影響的實質評估，如考古學者或陶窯專家的詳細研究報告，以證明建屋工程不會破壞龍窯結構。我們不容許政府犧牲龍窯這樣一個香港寶貴的文化遺產。」另外，他們也要求政府提出在施工期間將會對龍窯採取的保護措施和專責的部門，及說明如果龍窯在工程期間受到影響，相關部門將會作出怎樣的補救措施。
最後，關注組希望縱使政府未必接受，他們早前的建議，有關部門也應主動為龍窯制訂一個詳盡的保育及發展計劃，就如30年前政府曾有計劃將龍窯規劃成活的博物館」（living museum）。政府有責任帶頭保育，將龍窯帶回社區，正視龍窯的文化和歷史價值。
Press release
Town Planning Board (TPB) has released its decision on the Tuen Mun Outline Zoning Plan draft, choosing to demolish the former Pui Oi School to make way for public housing. In addition, the public housing site has been enlarged by taking part of the original conservation area of the Dragon Kiln. This decision poses a serious threat to Hong Kong’s only remaining and complete Dragon Kiln, putting its structural integrity and overall safety in danger. Sadly, this move also virtually eliminates the possibility of revitalizing this site into a Living Museum for Hong Kong people.
While the Hong Kong Dragon Kiln Concern Group supports the government’s plan to provide more housing, it is disappointed that their Conservation and Revitalization Proposal for the Castle Peak Pottery Kiln has not been accepted by the government.
“I understand the Government’s need to seek more land for housing, however, using this site to do so shows incredible shortsightedness. Developing this historical site into a cultural landmark is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Legislative Council member Roy Kwong Chun-Yu pointed out.
“The Hong Kong Dragon Kiln Concern Group is very disappointed by the decision of the Town Planning Board. Our Group unveiled a Conservation and Revitalization Proposal for the kiln in 2018 which was widely supported by the public. Despite a great deal of interest in our proposal during the public hearing of the TPB in August, we are now saddened to learn that the government plans to go ahead with its plans to demolish Pui Oi School. Our plans have not been accepted in any way, and this virtually eliminates any possibility of a Living Museum Complex. We are very saddened by this decision.” said Liz Lau, Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Dragon Kiln Concern Group.
According to the Outline Zoning plan, a 42-storey building will be erected only 30-metres away from the Dragon Kiln. The Group is gravely concerned that construction may result in the destruction or even total loss of this one-and-only kiln.
“We welcome the government’s decision to leave the dragon kiln untouched in the plan. But the threat to the kiln has not been alleviated. To have demolition and piling works only metres away means the kiln is still under grave threat,” stated Carmen Tong, a member of the Concern Group. She suggests the authority may be underestimating the potential harm to the kiln. “The exact distance between the construction site to the kiln has never been made explicit. We call on the Town Planning Board to clarify how the 30 metres is calculated, and to provide the precise border of the housing site, as well as the location and footprint of the building, in order to eliminate public concern.”
Last year, the Concern Group proposed to combine the former Pui Oi School site and the dragon kiln into a Ceramic Community Centre to create a cultural landmark for the ever-increasing population in Tuen Mun, a proposal that has been largely ignored by the government. “It is regretful that the government has persisted in their plans despite the fact that a better proposal has been put on the table,” said Tam Chun-Yin, a Tuen Mun District Councillor, who supports the Group’s proposal to preserve the kiln site into a Living Museum and revitalize the school building into a Ceramic Cultural Centre. “Even if the government’s goes ahead with its plans, it should actively reach out to the Concern Group to discuss the possibility of carrying out some of their suggestions, in order to bring some artistic and cultural atmosphere to our district.”
“The government has yet to provide a detailed assessment of how demolition and construction may affect the kiln. To allay the public’s fears, the Government should consult with ceramic kiln experts on the potential risk of nearby construction,” said Clarisse Yeung Suet Ying, who is also Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Dragon Kiln Concern Group. “We cannot allow the Government to sacrifice such a valuable cultural heritage. The Government must clarify which department is responsible for the protection of the kiln, as well as what protective methods and measures will be carried out. Who will be held responsible in case of any damage?” she continued.
Finally, the Concern Group called on the government to take a leading role in the conservation of the Dragon Kiln.
“The idea of a Living Museum at the Castle Peak Dragon Kiln was initiated by the government more than 30 years ago,” said Liz Lau. “It is time the government recognized the kiln’s important historical and cultural value, and take the lead in its conservation. Our dream is to see the kiln revitalized and made available to the Hong Kong people.”
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