攝：柏齊
政府山上的舊政府總部建築羣是香港人的文化遺產，自從兩年半前特區政府採納民間意見，決定完整保留舊政府總部西座以來，民間一直有強烈聲音要求拆除圍欄，使古蹟回復過去向公眾開放的原狀，但政府至今未有積極回應。
鑑於政府已決定將建築羣交由律政部門使用，律政司在今年3月建築署向古物諮詢委員會提交的文件中表示拒絕拆除圍欄〈註〉，並以安全為由繼續鎖閉政府山。我們對律政司的決定深感遺憾，認為此舉違反公眾期望和國際義務：
一、社會大眾支持保育政府山的基礎，是容許公眾享有使用權，而非將政府山變成少數權貴官員的私人樂園。政府山上的聖若翰座堂，法國傳道會大樓等古蹟，早已是市民和遊客到訪的重要地標，現行安排禁止公眾穿越舊政府總部建築羣，是嚴重削弱公眾使用權。
二、根據《中國文物古蹟保護準則》重要問題闡述第4.1.2條，「文物古迹除只供科学研究和出于保护要求不宜开放的以外，原则上都应当是开放的和公益型的。其利用的功能和开放的程度，要以文物古迹不受损伤，公众安全不受危害为前提。」按此準則，1997年後加建的圍欄是把古蹟向公眾開放的障礙，並無存在價值。
三、政府委託顧問進行的文物影響評估報告，清楚表明1997年後在舊政府總部建築羣加建的圍欄應該移除。
四、目前律政署位處金鐘政府合署的辦公室，大門周圍向公眾開放，既無圍欄亦沒有特別保安措施。因此，律政司絕無任何理據以加強保安為由，藉詞保留舊政府總部建築羣在1997年後加建的圍欄。
我們呼籲律政司檢討決定，從善如流，拆除舊政府總部建築羣圍欄，充份尊重公眾使用權。
我們同時要求古物諮詢委員會在本周開會時尊重公眾期望，責成律政司按照古蹟保育準則切實履行責任。
政府山關注組
2015年3月3日
Respect heritage: Open up Government Hill
Open letter to Secretary for Justice by Government Hill Concern Group
In 2012 the government in response to demands from the community agreed to preserve the West Wing of the former Central Government Offices. Since then there have been strong calls for the removal of
all barriers to allow free passage to the public, but the government has yet to respond positively.
The complex has been entrusted to the Department of Justice, and, in a paper submitted by the Architectural Services Department for consideration by the Antiquities Advisory Board, it is stated that the DOJ still refuses to dismantle the barriers, and advises that the government intends to retain the current arrangements due to security concerns.
We deeply regret the decision of the Secretary for Justice as it is contrary to public expectations and international obligations:
Firstly, the community wants the public right of passage to Government Hill to be restored. It does not want the facility to be open only to a minority comprised of government officials. Government Hill, St.
John the Baptist Cathedral, the French Mission Building are community and tourist attractions. However the existing arrangement prohibits free passage between Albert Road and the heritage buildings, and hence is a severe erosion of public access rights.
Secondly, according to the Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China 4.1.2, “As a general principle, except in cases in which a site needs to be closed for conservation purposes or in order to
facilitate scientific research, the site should be open and used for the public good. Prevention of harm to a site and safety of the public are the basic preconditions for the use and extent of public access”.
The 1997 decision to block public access to the site is in contravention of this principle.
Thirdly, the government’s own commissioned Heritage Impact Assessment report clearly states that the barriers erected in 1997 should be removed.
Fourthly , the current offices of the Department of Justice located at the Queensway Government Offices are open to the public with no barricades or special security measures in place. Therefore, the Department of Justice does not have any justification to insist on enhanced security at it new premises on Government Hill.
We call on the Department of Justice to review the decision, exercise good judgment and dismantle the barriers thereby fully respecting the public right to free passage.
We also request that the Antiquities Advisory Board recognize public expectations and urge the Secretary for Justice to follow the Heritage Impact Assessment guidelines to ensure the effective implementation of heritage conservation responsibilities.
Government Hill Concern Group
March 3, 2015
Note: ASD paper to AAB