Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Chinatown: Threats & Strategies
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SAFEGUARDING INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN CHINATOWN: THREATS & STRATEGIES 2017 Policy Analysis Exercise Alisa Toh Qian Wen Chee Wei Jia Lai Jian Qin Norman Maswari Aziz-Boey Tan Han Feng, Chester Matthias Vanessa Chiam Hui Ting TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 I. Chinatown – The Stage of Our Story ..................................................................................... 5 II. Our Client & Partner – The Singapore Heritage Society ................................................ 6 III. Problem Definition – Threats & Challenges to Chinatown’s Cultural Heritage .... 7 Research Methodology............................................................................................................................... 12 I. Outline of the Research Process ........................................................................................... 12 II. Literature Review ....................................................................................................................... 12 III. Interviews ...................................................................................................................................... 13 IV. Data Collection ............................................................................................................................. 13 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................................ 14 I. Definitions of Gentrification ................................................................................................... 14 II. Commercial Gentrification, Heritage Conservation & Tourism ................................ 16 III. Analysis of Heritage Trusts ..................................................................................................... 18 1. Framework for Analysing Heritage Trusts ................................................................... 21 2. Case Study: Hong Kong’s Lord Wilson Heritage Trust ............................................. 24 3. Conclusion on Heritage Trusts .......................................................................................... 29 Analytical Framework ................................................................................................................................ 30 I. Identifying Stakeholders in Chinatown ............................................................................. 31 II. Perceptions of Cultural Heritage in Terms of Authenticity ........................................ 31 III. Effects of Behaviour on the Authenticity of Cultural Heritage.................................. 32 Stakeholder Engagement – Interview Findings ............................................................................... 33 I. Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage ....................................................................... 33 1. The Concept of Authenticity............................................................................................... 33 2. The Concept of Relevance ................................................................................................... 35 3. A Balance between Authenticity and Relevance ........................................................ 36 II. Differing Perspectives Regarding Kreta Ayer .................................................................. 37 III. Potential Threats to Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage .............................. 39 1. Commercial Gentrification.................................................................................................. 39 2. Changing Character of the Community .......................................................................... 40 3. “Chinatown” Versus “China Town”.................................................................................. 41 IV. Interaction between Stakeholders ....................................................................................... 42 1. Government Agencies’ Interactions ................................................................................ 42 2. Interactions between Government Agencies and Other Stakeholders ............. 43 V. Framing Policies Moving Forward ....................................................................................... 45 1. Preference for Indirect Interventions ............................................................................ 45 2. Self-Evaluation of Policies ................................................................................................... 46 1 Data Collection – Findings & Analysis .................................................................................................. 48 I. Mapping of Businesses in Kreta Ayer ................................................................................. 48 1. Loss of Continuity .................................................................................................................. 48 2. Tourism and Tourist-Targeting Businesses ................................................................ 49 II. Secondary Research on Property Prices ........................................................................... 50 Policy Options ................................................................................................................................................ 53 I. A Statutory Heritage Trust for Chinatown ........................................................................ 53 1. A Governing Institution for Heritage Conservation in Chinatown ...................... 54 2. Adopting the Structure of a Charitable Trust .............................................................. 55 3. Establishing the Trust as a Statutory Body .................................................................. 56 4. Composition of the Board of Trustees ........................................................................... 57 5. Functions of a Statutory Heritage Trust ........................................................................ 58 II. Improving the Commercial Viability of Traditional Trades ....................................... 62 1. Integrating Traditional Trades into the Tourist and Local Experiences .......... 62 2. Providing Rental Grants for Businesses with Heritage Value ............................... 65 3. Assisting Traditional Businesses with Digitisation ................................................... 65 IV. Revitalising Chinatown as a Place of Interest .................................................................. 67 1. Free Admissions to the Chinatown Heritage Centre ................................................ 67 2. Leverage on Existing Activities to Attract Youths to Chinatown ......................... 71 3. Organise More Regular Activities to Attract Youths to Chinatown .................... 72 Evaluating Policy Options ......................................................................................................................... 76 I. Establishing a Statutory Heritage Trust for Chinatown .............................................. 77 II. Improving the Commercial Viability of Traditional Trades ....................................... 79 III. Revitalising Chinatown as a Place of Interest .................................................................. 80 Recommendations & Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 81 Appendices ..................................................................................................................................................... 83 I. Appendix A: Map of Central Region ..................................................................................... 83 II. Appendix B: Secondary Data on Chinatown..................................................................... 84 1. Resale Transactions .............................................................................................................. 84 2. Rental Transactions............................................................................................................... 86 III. Appendix C: Places Chinatown Has Lost since 2015 .................................................... 90 IV. Appendix D: Range of Options for a Heritage Trust ...................................................... 94 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Chinatown, like other historical districts in Singapore such as Kampong Glam, Little India and Boat Quay, has a rich history and cultural identity. These districts have been the subject of conservation efforts by the Government, but they primarily extend to the physical conservation of buildings and structures. In recent times, there has been commentary from certain segments of the public that Chinatown has lost much of its social fabric and is increasingly catering to the tastes of tourists. Also, it has been reported that property investors have been buying up conservation shophouses such as those in Kreta Ayer due to their perceived potential to appreciate in value, resulting in tenancy changes. All of this has led to a sense that Chinatown is gradually losing the character and vibrancy that it once had. This raises the question of whether conservation policy