The Antiquities & Monuments Office is working to persuade the owner of Hoh Fuk Tong Centre to withdraw an application to demolish the historic building.

The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China owns the centre, which has played an important role in the Mainland's modern history.

Both the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Tuen Mun District Council are supporting the office in its efforts.

Located at 28 Castle Peak Road in Tuen Mun, the centre comprises several historical buildings built originally as a villa in 1930s by General Cai Tingkai, who took part in the war against Japan.

From 1946 to 1949, the centre was used as a campus of the Dade Institute, a tertiary institution with a strong association with the Chinese Communist Party. Many well-known Chinese scholars, such as Mao Dun, Qian Jiaju and Guo Moruo stayed and lectured there.

The significant role of the Dade Institute in the development of modern Chinese history makes it a unique building worthy of preservation.

The Dade Institute was closed in 1949 and sold to the London Missionary Society in the 1950s before ownership was transferred to the church in 1961. Since then, it has been used as a religious retreat.

In 1999, the church submitted a redevelopment scheme for the centre, proposing the demolition of all historical buildings on the site and the two adjoining schools, namely, But San School and Hoh Fuk Tong College.

The office was notified by the Buildings Department about the demolition application on March 5 and took immediate action to consult the board and council on March 19 and 20 respectively. The statutory deadline for the Department to reply is April 30.

The board strongly recommends that the former Dade Institute in the Hoh Fuk Tong Centre be preserved in-situ, and supports the idea of exploring preservation proposals which can meet the interests and aspirations of the public in preserving historical buildings.

The council has urged the Government to discuss with the owner as soon as possible the question of compensation.