BIZCHINA / Macro Economy |
Preserving our hutongBy ()
Updated: 2007-05-30 17:19 The old city renovation project in Dongsi Batiao tests the municipal government's management ability, says a signed article in Beijing News. An excerpt follows: According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, the Dongsi Batiao relocation project is temporarily suspended. But Vice-Chairman of Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Changlian said recently that active protection of the old city proper, or a combination of protection and utilization, was necessary. Authorities of the Dongcheng District said that there are no certified or registered cultural relics in the demolished part of Dongsi Batiao so the area has no value for protection. Beijing has demolished much of its old city proper since the 1990s. The result is that traditional streets and houses are gradually disappearing. Only some royal palaces and gardens are well preserved. Against such a background, we should try our best to save more areas of cultural and historical significance. Passive protection, or preservation, is justified and necessary. And this is the very reason that the Dongsi Batiao project stirs many. The discussion over the renovation of Beijing's old city proper has continued for about half a century. It is pathetic that people are still disputing whether hutong (alleys) and siheyuan (courtyard houses) are worthy of protection today when these traditional areas are rare. The protection of Beijing's old city cannot be decided by the district government or the real estate developer. Besides, it tests the government's ability to deal with social disputes. A democratic procedure and wide social participation are needed. Involved departments should hold a public hearing on the project to solicit opinions and explore solutions. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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