King Yin Lane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
King Yin Lane (景賢里) is a magnificent Chinese style mansion located at 45 Stubbs Road, Hong Kong. It was up for tender in early 2004, which closed on 8th June. Despite claims that it was highly likely that the new buyer would demolish the property and redevelop it given the recovered property market, the Government of Hong Kong did not act. In the end the owner, Yau Mok Shing (邱木城), decided against selling the property after much public pressure. The future preservation of the building is still in jeopardy.
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[edit] Save King Yin Lane
The Conservancy Association of Hong Kong (長春社), a strong advocate of the historical heritage, wrote to the Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho in April requesting him to consider declaring the mansion as a monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. The Association also organised the "Save King Yin Lane Campaign" in June and generated a public discussion. Yau Mok Shing (邱木城) then told the media that he would not sell the building for the moment.
The Government of Hong Kong did not act to preserve the building, as it was private property and had not utilized its allocated land mass to the full. If the government was to declare it a historical building, thus forbiding the demolition and any further development on the site, then it would have to pay huge compensation to the owner, in the region of hundreds of millions, yet without taking over the building.
[edit] History
The mansion, which sits on a 50,650 square feet site, is at least 68 years old. The site comprises a three-storey "red bricks and green tiles" building, a private garden festooned with bonsai plants, various pavilions and terraces. It has been a scenic spot for mainland and overseas tourists.
[edit] King Yin Lane in popular culture
The legendary TV series "Yesterday's Glitter (京華春夢)" starring Lisa Wong (汪明荃) and the 1955 Hollywood movie "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (生死戀)" starring William Holden were both shot in the mansion.
[edit] Presevation
The building is well preserved because in the early years, the family who owns it valued the mixed-style pre-War residence with Chinese Renaissance architectural style.
