THE OLD CENTRAL POLICE STATION COMPOUND INTERPRETIVE PLAN DRAFT FINAL INTERPRETIVE PLAN DECEMBER 2009 Winkle-picker Ltd The Old Central Police Station and Victoria Prison, Hong Kong 1. INTRODUCTION 4 1.1 What is interpretation? 4 1.2 Why an interpretive plan? 4 1.3 Scope of the study 5 1.4 Process of the study 5 1.5 Purposes of the 2nd Draft Interpretive Plan 6 1.6 Documents consulted 6 2. VISITOR TARGET GROUPS 7 2.1 Background to tourism in Hong Kong 7 2.2 Heritage tourism in Hong Kong 7 2.3 Background to museum visitation in Hong Kong 8 2.4 Visitor target groups 8 2.5 Needs and expectations of visitor groups 10 2.6 Implications for facilities and interpretation 13 3. SITE INTERPRETATION 15 3.1 The interpretive context 15 3.2 Local heritage trails 15 3.3 Relevant museums 15 3.4 Other local cultural offers 18 3.5 Statements of significance 19 3.6 Interpretive themes 20 3.7 A wider interpretive perspective 21 3.8 Alternative narratives 21 3.9 Some interpretive principles of our own 22 4. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES 24 4.1 Bringing life to the site 24 4.2 A range of provision 24 4.3 A Museum … ? 25 4.4 … or an Interpretive Centre? 26 4.5 Collection, what collection? 27 4.6 A beacon for heritage projects in Hong Kong and beyond 28 4.7 Possible interpretive facilities 28 4.8 E-navigation 30 4.9 Photo opportunities 31 5. A RANGE OF VISITS 32 5.1 Rationalising interpretive locations into a visit 32 5.2 Possible visit itineraries by visitor group 32 5.3 Mapping potential interpretive site uses 32 5.4 Site-wide visitor circulation by group 33 CPSC: Final IP 8th Jan 2010 V5 2 Winkle-picker Ltd 6. SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION 39 6.1 List of uses and area allocation 39 6.2 Design requirements for interpretive spaces 41 APPENDIX – RESEARCH NOTES 54 BIBLIOGRAPHY 73 CPSC: Final IP 8th Jan 2010 V5 3 Winkle-picker Ltd 1 INTRODUCTION 6. Interpretation addressed to children 1.1 WHAT IS INTERPRETATION? (say, up to the age of twelve) should not be a dilution of the presentation to “The work of revealing something of the adults, but should follow a beauty and wonder, the inspiration and fundamentally different approach. To spiritual meaning that lie behind what the be at its best it will require a separate visitor can with his senses perceive.” program. Freeman Tilden Sometimes, Tilden’s interpretive Interpretation is a communication principles are reduced to three key discipline that is generally applied in elements – to relate, reveal and the context of a museum, visitor centre provoke. These principles have been or heritage site. It can be applied to a built upon in the theory and practice of single object or an entire country. the last 50 years but fundamentally remain relevant. The first person to formulate principles around the activity is generally Other aims for interpretation can be to: regarded as Freeman Tilden who laid • Orientate out six principles in his 1957 book • Inform Interpreting Our Heritage: • Entertain • Persuade 1. Any interpretation that does not • Explain somehow relate what is being • Promote values displayed or described to something • Influence behaviour within the personality or experience of • Develop a sense of identity the visitor will be sterile. or place 2. Information, as such, is not Essentially, interpretation is about Interpretation. Interpretation is communicating a sense of value to revelation based on information. But users so that, in the case of heritage, they are entirely different things. they may understand the reason for However, all interpretation includes conserving the building or object and information. may even be inspired to become actively involved in that process. 3. Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts, whether the 1.2 WHY AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN? materials presented are scientific, An Interpretive Plan aims to turn the historical, or architectural. Any art is to principles of interpretation into a reality some degree teachable. for a specific site. It aims to be a clear statement of the aims, context, issues, 4. The chief aim of Interpretation is not approaches and methods of instruction, but provocation. implementation for that site. It should act as both a strategic framework for 5. Interpretation should aim to present building consensus for your objectives, a whole rather than a part, and must as well as a plan of action for future address itself to the whole person consultants by: rather than any phase. CPSC: Final IP 8th Jan 2010 V5 4 Winkle-picker Ltd • Defining the objectives of • A formulation of an Interpretive the interpretation Plan including key messages, • Providing an overview of the narrative themes, sub-themes and context within which the links in relation to the built interpretation takes place elements of the site • Defining opportunities and • A description in broad terms of constraints for interpretation implementation strategies to on the site deliver these storylines • Exploring interpretive approaches In essence, it explores the following • Laying down a messaging questions: strategy Why …. are you interpreting the site • Expressing a mission and writing an Interpretive Plan? statement for interpretation (Chapter 1) • Outlining implications for the Who … is the interpretation for? site of the interpretation (Chapter 2) • Suggesting methods and What … will it interpret? (Chapter 3) media of interpretation How …. will you interpret it? (Chapters 4-6) These aims should tie in with the overall aims of the project that the 1.4 PROCESS OF THE STUDY CPSC: The schedule for the study is as 1. Is a valuable heritage site that follows: should be sensitively revitalised to become a lively and integral part of the Item local community No. Milestone When 2. Should be revitalised with the public 1 Interim Paper: End interest in mind – engaging, inclusive outlining initial Mar and financially sustainable without thoughts based 2009 public subsidy around the scope of 3. Should be a globally recognized works for discussion example of an innovative urban 2 1st Draft Interpretive Early regeneration and adaptive re-use of a Plan: expanded, May historical heritage site fleshed out ideas 2009 based around the 1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY scope of works as The scope of the overall Interpretive agreed from Plan for final delivery in December discussion of the 2009 is to provide: Interim Paper for • A review of the visitor target wider circulation groups and their service 3 2nd Draft Interpretive Mid requirements Plan: a revised July • An exploration of issues around the document based 2009 site interpretation and devise a around the scope of series of guidelines to feed into the works following conservation and commercial comments from wider st planning exercises circulation of the 1 CPSC: Final IP 8th Jan 2010 V5 5 Winkle-picker Ltd draft date on this project. It essential for any 4 Draft Final Mid party interpreting this site to make a Interpretive Plan: a Oct detailed study of the excellent revised document 2009 Conservation Management Plans and based around the documents produced by PMT. scope of works following comments Documents that have been reviewed from wider as background for this study include: consultation of the 2nd • 2008 Hong Kong Annual Draft Report 5 Final Interpretive Mid • Recommendation Report, Plan: a revised Dec Committee on Museums, document based 2009 LCSD, 2007 around the scope of • PMT Plans Option C works following • Conservation Management consolidated Plan, June 2008, Purcell comment from the Miller Tritton LLP Trust and other • Gazeteer, May 2008, Purcell consultants as may Miller Tritton be engaged by the • Report on Public Trust Consultation, 11 October 2007 to 10 April 2008, HKJC 1.5 PURPOSES OF THE FINAL • Historical Anecdotes, August INTERPRETIVE PLAN 2006, Prof. Chan Wai-kwan This Final Interpretive Plan aims to • CPSC Website, HKJC consolidate on the progress over the • Presentations by PMT, HdM course of the project. It aims to provide and DTZ an understanding of the ‘Who?’, • Headquarters Block CMP nd ‘What?’ and ‘How?’ of the 2 Draft interpretation of the site. For other publications consulted, It aims to summarise discussions with please see the Bibliography. members of the wider team, especially where the interpretive process interfaces with the work of the Conservation Architects (PMT) or the New Build Architects (HdM). In particular, as the work of other team members has been evolving and ongoing, it aims to confirm uses and potential treatments for interpretive spaces as the briefing document for the eventual interpretive designers. 1.6 DOCUMENTS CONSULTED It is hoped that this Plan will build upon the excellent work done by the team to CPSC: Final IP 8th Jan 2010 V5 6 Winkle-picker Ltd 2. VISITOR TARGET GROUPS Open-air Market 24.5 24.5 – Ladies Market 2.1 BACKGROUND TO TOURISM IN Avenue of Stars 21.9 22.1 HONG KONG Ocean Park 17.4 17.9 It is not in the remit of this exercise to Hong Kong 17.9 16.8 do a comprehensive market review of Disneyland tourism in Hong Kong. However, a Open-air Market 15.4 15.2 cursory look at the sector has some – Temple Street instructive indicators that may provide Clock Tower at 12.3 13.0 insight into the needs of certain visitor Tsim Sha Tsui target groups. Hong Kong 14.6 12.7 Convention and Based on Hong Kong Tourism Board Exhibition Centre (HKTB) visitor arrival figures for 2008, Repulse Bay 14.3 12.4 just over 29.5 million people visited Tsim Sha Tsui 9.2 10.9 Hong Kong last year, an increase of Waterfront 4.7% on visitor numbers in 2007.