Saving King Yin Lei
It was up for tender in early 2004, which closed on 8th June. Despite claims that it was highly likely that the new buyer would demolish the property and redevelop it given the recovered property market, the Government of Hong Kong did not act. In the end the owner, Yau Mok Shing was against selling the property after much public pressure.
The Conservancy Association of Hong Kong , a strong advocate of the historical heritage, wrote to the Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho in April requesting him to consider declaring the mansion as a monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. The Association also organised the "Save King Yin Lei Campaign" in June and generated a public discussion. Yau Mok Shing then told the media that he would not sell the building for the moment.
The Government of Hong Kong did not act to preserve the building, as it was private property and had not utilized its allocated land mass to the fullest. If the government was to declare it a historical building, thus forbidding the demolition and any further development on the site, it would have to pay huge compensations to the owner, in the millions.
The new owner wrote to the government on the preservation of the site but received no reply, which Secretary for Development Carrie Lam admits as her department being insensitive.
The owner then began demolishing the tiles of the building, which made news in the Hong Kong media. Realizing this development, the government declared the site a proposed monument to stop the work.
Finally, on 25 January 2008, the Government reached a preliminary understanding with the owner on a possible preservation option for the mansion. The owner will surrender King Yin Lei's whole site to the Government after restoration. Subject to the necessary town planning approval, the Government will grant an adjacent man-made slope site of a size similar to King Yin Lei to the owner for development, subject to the same plot ratio of 0.5 and a height restriction of three storeys.
History
The mansion was designed by architect A.R. Fenton-Rayen. It sits on a 50,650 square feet site. Construction began in 1936 and was completed by 1937. The site comprises a three-storey "red bricks and green tiles" building, a private garden festooned with bonsai plants, various pavilions and terraces. It has been a scenic spot for mainland and overseas tourists.
Preservation
The building is well preserved because in the early years, the family who owns it valued the mixed-style pre-War residence with Chinese Renaissance architectural style.
In 2007, the Hong Kong Government listed nearly 500 buildings in Hong Kong as historical buildings but King Yin Lei is not on the list.
Work in progress
On 11 September 2007, dump trucks were spotted at the site. Parts of the roof have been removed. All 3 Chinese characters on a front gate plaque had been chiselled completely away by workers. The Conservancy Association of Hong Kong are disappointed that the government has not been able to preserve the estate.
King Yin Lei in popular culture
The building was featured in several films and TV series over the years. In 1955, the interior was used for scenes in '''' when the character of Han Su Yin visits her family in Mainland China. Bruce Lee fans will recognise it from a long shot in the film where it is used to represent the exterior of Han's fortress. Clark Gable's '''' was filmed there in 1955.
The legendary TV series ''Yesterday's Glitter'' starring Liza Wang and the 1955 Hollywood movie '''' starring William Holden were both shot inside the mansion.
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