The Hong Kong government will acquire Kom Tong Hall at a consideration of 53 million HK dollars (US$6.8 million) for converting the building into Dr Sun Yat-sen museum.

The Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping officiated a signing ceremony Saturday where the director of Lands Patrick Lau Lai-chiu signed on behalf of the government a letter of intent with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the owner of Kom Tong Hall, on the preservation of this historical building.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ho noted that with distinguished historical and architectural merits, Kom Tong Hall could be regarded as a representative historical building in Hong Kong which was worth permanent preservation.

"We are glad that a consensus is reached with the Church to preserve the building after a year of sincere negotiation. This consensus is a win-win outcome for the government, the Church and the public, who will all be pleased to see this invaluable building being preserved and turned into a Dr Sun Yat-sen museum," he said.

According to a government spokesman, the government plans to convert Kom Tong Hall into a Dr Sun Yat-sen museum with a budget of 91 million HK dollars (US$11.7 million), to introduce Dr Sun's life and his revolutionary activities in Hong Kong. It is anticipated that the museum will be open to the public in November 2006 to commemorate Dr Sun's 140th birthday.

Dr Sun Yat-sen is one of the most respectable figures in the history of China. He led the revolution and established the first republican government in China. He received his education in Hong Kong and organized revolutionary activities in the city.

Being located among the many points of heritage interest in the Central and Western District, including the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail, the future Dr Sun museum will well serve as an anchor where visitors could gain an insight into Dr Sun's history and activities in Hong Kong before setting off for other tourist attractions in the area.

The Kom Tong Hall, located at 7 Castle Road, Central and Western District, was built in 1914 as a residence of the affluent Ho Kom-tong family. The building is lavishly decorated with stained glass windows, teakwood staircase and panels, most of which well-preserved in their original state.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2004)