Sunday, 4 November 2018

宋王臺與香港革新會 Sung Wong Toi and the Reform Club of Hong Kong

歷史,始於創造,成於製造,終於利益。



宋王臺的歷史,涉及面廣,包含地市發展和規劃、晚清和民國遺民情懷、英國殖民懷柔統治、地區慈善組織、歷史記憶的想像和製造等。

一直以來,以遺民對異質空間和戀物幽情的視角,檢視製造宋王臺歷史的學術論文和普及文章,不勝枚舉。晚近,學者另闢蹊徑,以冷戰背景和國共對峙的視角,討論歷史記憶的製造,開拓新視野,將宋王臺研究推向另一層次,造福英語讀者群。

國族情緒過熱,遺民書寫佔據了宋王臺研究的主線,奈何令多元聲音和歷史被消失。宋王臺研究變成最不學術的學術研究。孤陋寡聞,好像未不見有人認真爬梳歷史檔案(如HKGRSHKRS156-1-4457HKRS410-10-3)和中英文報章(尤缺South China Morning Post),看看當年政府如何決策,華民政務司(the Hon. Brian Charles Keith HAWKINS [1900-1962], 1955-57)如何處理,NGO(樂善堂和九龍城街坊福利會)如何呼籲,市政局(戰後代議政制)如何討論,乃至一個由英國人主導的反對派政黨--香港革新會Reform Club of Hong Kong)--在整件事上的角色。

由宋王臺為起點,連繫香港政府(葛量洪)的戰後殖民治理性(colonial governmentality)和冷戰視角下的文化政治政策和取態,諸如1) 李鄭屋被發現(1955年8月,與宋王臺同期)和保護的討論和決定,2) 英國文化協會(British Council)及在港英人對中國文化的態度,例如南來畫家(如李研山丁衍庸呂壽琨等於1957年組成七人畫會。李、呂等人組成的香港中國美術會經過兩年的審批,方能在1958年8月10日正式成立)應英國文化協會的邀請,在其圖書館舉辦畫展。推陳出新,指日可待。

香港革新會(Reform Club of Hong Kong)在保護宋王臺一事上立場和角色,參見其致South China Morning Post編輯的信如下:



South China Morning Post, Dec 10, 1955, p. 17.
Sung Wong Toi
(To the Editor, S.C.M. Post)

Sir, - The Reform Club notes that in answer to a Petition from the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society and the Kowloon City Kai Fong Welfare Association, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs has stated that Government has been giving most serious consideration towards ensuring the preservation of the Sung Wong Toi Stone and that plans had been prepared and funds allocated for the construction of a garden in which the Stone would be placed.

The Reform Club feels that this statement of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs does not bring out the fact that the question as to the future of this Stone was considered by the Urban Council some eighteen months ago and that the decision to preserve the Stone was taken largely on the initiative of the Reform Club. The Chairman of the Club, Brook Bernacchi [Member of the Urban Council, 1952-1981, 1983-1986, 1989-1995. Bernacchi grew Ceylon tea in his All-Knowing Lotus Villa 覺蓮苑 at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island ], prepared a long Memorandum for the benefit of Government on the history of the Stone. Government has accepted the recommendations of the Urban Council in this matter and the construction of a public garden in which the Stone will be placed arises directly out of the Council's recommendations.
The Reform Club of Hongkong

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South China Morning Post, Aug 2, 1956, p. 6.
Re-sitting of historic Chinese stone
"Sung Wong Toi" preserved in garden in Kowloon City. Work nears completion

Work is nearing completion on the re-siting of part of the historic Chinese stone known as "Sung Wong Toi" (Terrace of a Sung Dynasty Emperor) in a garden west of Kam Tung Road, with the inscription facing Sung Wong Toi Road, Kowloon City. To the north is the hill, now being levelled, on which the Stone stood originally.
Existence of the Stone was threatened by the Kai Tak development scheme and the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society and the Kowloon City Kaifong Welfare Association petitioned Government last year asking that consideration be given to preservation of the Stone. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Hon. B. C. K. Hawkins, then replied that plans had been prepared and funds allocated for the construction of a garden west of Tam Kung Road in which the inscribed portion of the Stone would be placed. The work was put in hand this year. 

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