聯署: 保留愛丁堡廣場建築群為古蹟
Petition: Preserving Edinburgh Place as a Monument (For English summary, see below and attached pdf file; To sign petition: http://www.gopetition.com/online/31746.html)
「中環新海濱」發展計劃不斷的侵食原有的市民空間 (civic space)，將之轉化為商業、軍事、道路及無法使用的「視覺公共空間」。為了保衛愛丁堡廣場建築群作為中環海濱僅餘的、具有歷史及文化價值而又代表市民的公共空間，一群關心歷史文化傳承、本土文化及公共空間的保育人士發動了一個新的聯署活動，要求古物諮詢委員會立即展開「愛丁堡廣場建築群」的公開評級會議，除了把愛丁堡廣場建築群評級為一級歷史建築物之外，更應進一步建議發展局把它指定為古蹟。因為，如果不指定為古蹟，下場就跟皇后碼頭一樣，即使被評為一級歷史建築物，都很難避免被拆遷的命運。
以下的聯署文件是由文化傳承監察起草，希望所有關心的「個人」或「團體」到以下網址聯署支持: http://www.gopetition.com/online/31746.html
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「保留愛丁堡廣場建築群為古蹟」之文件摘要 (全文見附件 pdf 檔)
文化傳承監察(Heritage Watch)
9 November 2009
目的與範圍
我們要求古物諮詢委員會賦予愛丁堡廣場建築群為一級歷史建築群的地位，以使之列為古蹟。愛丁堡廣場建築群範圍包括，愛丁堡廣場、皇后碼頭、檢閱台、大會堂與紀念花園、愛丁堡廣場碼頭(天星碼頭)與天星碼頭停車場。
愛丁堡建築群之重要性與論據
A. 建立香港第一個法定歷史和文化景觀，使香港不致落後於當前的國際和國家物質文化遺產保護標準。
B. 「歷史景觀」或「重要文化景觀」的概念已被具權威性的古物保護標準所採用，如巴拉憲章。多個不同國家和城市，包括紐約，中國，台灣和澳門已經將之付諸實行，如澳門的歷史城區。這反映有形文化遺產保護不局限於個別建築，它可以是一個地、群集的建築、景觀，甚至一個地區。古物諮詢委員會的現行做法多更宣布個別的建築物為古蹟或歷史建築物，但根據古物古蹟條例（Cap.53）允許委員會宣布地方和建築物為古蹟或歷史建築。愛丁堡建築群的獨特和富有意義性，為香港建立第一個歷史和文化景觀提供了揳機。
C. 據聯合國教科文組織亞洲太平洋地區文化顧問恩格爾哈特(Richard Engelhardt)所言，「保存城市形態肌理和活化公共空間的重要性已超越建築物保存的位置，成為發展商、政治人物、和大眾最重視的保育議題。如果沒有保存城市原有的結構形態，市民及遊客將無法閱讀城市的歷史肌理，更無法理解其它[單棟建築物]的保育工作。」
D. 愛丁堡建築群具對香港有極重大的歷史和文化價值，而它也符合古物諮詢委員會對歷史建築的9個擬議歷史主題中的6個，如下：
主題一﹕建立殖民統治，維持社會穩定和治安
皇后碼頭、大會堂標誌著每位新來港總督和大多數成員的英國王室抵達香港後的路線。此外，建築群也紀錄了多個香港第一次，如大會堂是首個為區議會選舉計票的地方、皇后碼頭則為連接香港島和九龍的第一個交通工具樞紐等。
主題二﹕對香港整體富有重社會及文化意義
整個公認為地標的建築群建於20世紀50年代是發生香港社會運動（天星碼頭1960年代）和保護釣魚台運動（1970年代）的地方，因此，也被視為培養港人文化認同長成的搖籃。此外，無數具里程碑意義的事件在此舉行，加上為電影、音樂錄像，甚至結婚照的拍攝場地，實是延續了社區的集體記憶。
主題三﹕殖民時期的經濟活動
這是展覽香港產品的地方，也經常舉辦貿易展覽會。
主題四﹕殖民地的社會發展
為不同國家，社會背景和性別的人們提供聚集的地方。在建築群內有展覽大廳、豪華餐廳、圖書館等設施，為社會上富裕的人士和普通人民提供不同服務。同樣，也吸引了大陸商人及非華裔，如菲律賓人視之為社會聚集的地方。
主題五﹕殖民時期的教育改革
在廣場內發生的中文運動和要求重新開放寶血金禧中學活動等皆促使了社會中的教育改革。
主題六﹕香港戰後時期的多元文化、經濟繁榮發展
提供各種服務的香港大會堂及廣場空地所塑造了建築群平易近人的形象，吸引社會不同階層人士的使用，如外藉傭工(聚會、示威)、本地工人(享受午餐)、學生，一般公眾和社會領袖(大會堂高座舉行的活動)等。
未來路向
在這個建築群內發生的事，令建築群成為香港人心不可或缺的場景，並刻畫出一串串城市發展改變的足跡。我們強列建議授予愛丁堡廣場建築群一級歷史地位，作為申報整個“歷史景觀”為古蹟的第一步。最後，我們建議古物諮詢委員會應開放公眾申請歷史建築物的渠道。
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Summary “Preserving Edinburgh Place as a Monument”
Heritage Watch
9 Novermber 2009
Purpose and Boundary
This petition urges AAB to confer Edinburgh Place Grade I status as Historic Landscape of Cultural Significance and to pursue this to be declared a Monument. Edinburgh Place and its defining structures include Edinburgh Square, Queen’s Pier, the Dias, the City Hall complex and Memorial Garden, the Star Ferry and the Star Ferry Car Park.
Significance of the Complex and Arguments
A. Declare the first historical and cultural landscape in Hong Kong in line with prevailing international and national standards of tangible cultural heritage conservation.
B. The concept of “historical landscape”, or “landscape of significant cultural important” has been introduced in authoritative conservation standards, like the Burra Charter and is used by various countries and cities, including New York, China, Taiwan and Macau (e.g. Historic Centre of Macao). Conserving tangible cultural heritage is not restricted to individual buildings but can be a site, a cluster of buildings, a landscape and even a district. The current practice of AAB has been to declare monuments and historical buildings individually, however, the Antiques and Monuments Ordinance (Cap.53) allows declaring a place, building or site as a monument. The uniqueness and signification of Edinburgh Place may lead to the establishment of first historical and cultural landscape in the urban area of Hong Kong.
C. According to Richard Engelhardt, UNESCO Regional Adviser for Culture in Asia and the Pacific, “[f]irst of all, even more than the preservation of buildings, the preservation of the urban morphology and the revitalisation of public space has become the most important conservation issue for developers, politicians, and the public alike. Without the preservation of the original structural skeleton of the town, the historic urban fabric will be unreadable and all other conservation efforts will be incomprehensible to the residents and visitors alike.”
D. The Complex has significant historical and cultural values for Hong Kong at territorial level and it matches 6 out of 9 themes under AAB’s grading principles for Historical Buildings:
1st : Establishment of Colonial Rule and Maintenance of Social Stability, Law & Order
Edinburgh Place, including Queen’s Pier, the Dias and the City Hall marked the arrival of Governors and members of the British royal family. The place has been used to hold ceremonies including the opening of the legal year by the Judiciary. Besides, the first vote-counting for District Boards and Urban Council and Legislative Council elections took place here.
2nd : Social and cultural significance for HK at territorial level
The Complex is a recognized landmark used by the public since 1950s and a cradle of cultural identity with the start of social movements, including the Star Ferry Pier demonstrations in the 1960s and the Protect Diaoyutai Movement Pier in 1970s. Edinburgh Place has perpetuated the community’s collective memory with numerous milestone events and as the location for – famous and less famous - films, music videos and marriage photographs.
3rd: Significantly important of “Economic Activities in the Colonial Period”
It served as an exhibition place for Hong Kong export products and trade fairs.
4th: Significantly important in Social Development of the Colony
It provided a place for social gatherings by people from all nations, social backgrounds and sexes. Both wealthy and ordinary Chinese people enjoyed memorable times in Edinburgh Place including its public space, exhibitions hall, restaurants, and library.
5th: Significantly important for Educational reform in the Colonial times
Social protests leading to subsequent reforms including Protests of the Chinese Language Movement and Protests to demand the re-opening of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School also took place at Edinburgh Place.
6th: Demonstrated cultural diversity in Hong Kong
The various services provided in City Hall and the various public spaces shape Edinburgh Place as a centre for all walks of life, including migrant workers holding social gatherings, and political functions, local workers enjoying their lunch boxes, and students and social leaders holding functions at City Hall.
Way Forward
Given the historic happenings which took place and the many footprints left behind by people from Hong Kong and abroad, Edinburgh Place has become a landscape of great significance in the development of Hong Kong and its people. Conferring a Grade I status of the Edinburgh Place Complex is the first step in declaring this entire “historical landscape” a monument.
To sign the petition as individuals or groups, please go to : http://www.gopetition.com/online/31746.html