从香港保育政策看晚清墟市的保护——个案研究:元朗旧墟（英文）

An Overview of Conservation Policy in Hong Kong in Preserving Late Qing Vernacular Market,Case study: Yuen Long Old Market

城市急速发展,地价高租金贵的环境下,重建发展的利益往往比保留历史建筑物高。康熙八年(1699年)取消迁界令^(1)),锦田进士邓文蔚获封地设墟,今称元朗旧墟^(2)),是香港晚清时期的民居及墟市旧址。晚清时期,因地理环境因素,旧墟成为附近围村农产品集散地。全盛期店铺多达102间。20世纪初期,随着发展,大部份民居已改建为丁屋^(3))。现时保存的历史建筑物包括现存香港唯一清代客栈——同益栈,最古老的当铺——晋源押外,还有大王庙及玄关二帝庙及数十间晚清民居,建筑风格都属岭南地区常见的青砖墙及木梁瓦顶结构。墟内建筑群具丰富社会价值,保留了传统工艺店铺。近年铁路开通,建筑物相继清拆重建,晚清时期民居面貌不再。现时只靠业主自愿性维修及保留历史建筑,并无法律及政策保护。这报告将以元朗旧墟为例,透过现有的保护政策及行政诱因讨论保育传统民居建筑群的可行性。

In urban city like Hong Kong, we faced rapid urban development and the land value is at a premium, economical benefit of redevelopment is usually higher than preservation of historic buildings. Back in 1699（ year of Kang Xi）, the Great Clearance Ban was lifted in the same year, Tang Man-wai, who attained a jin-shi degree was permitted to establish a market, as known as Yuen Long Old Market today. It is an area with late Qing vernacular dwellings and Market. In the Qing dynasty, the geographical benefit of the market has made the area to a commercial hub of New Territories, which consisted of 102 shops at its peak. In the early 20 th century, a lot of traditional dwellings were redeveloped into village houses. A few historic buildings still stand nowadays are Tung Yik Store, Chun Yuen Pawn House, Tai Wong Old Temple and Yuen Kwan Yi Tai Temple and a dozen of traditional dwellings. They are constructed in the Southern China Qing architectural style with green brick wall and timber tiled roofs. The Market contented a rich cultural resource and traditional crafting are still in business. After the rail network connected to the area, the redevelopment potential has increased, the streetscape has changed. As most of the buildings are privatelyowned properties, the preservation to historic buildings are of their own will. This report will take Yuen Long Old Market as a case study to discuss the feasibility of conserving tradition dwellings compound within existing conservation policy and administrative incentive framework in Hong Kong.