鄧永鏘（DavidTang）中國會、上海灘創辦人
AhugeFrenchchateauwasbuiltinPekingacoupleofyearsago.It'scalledChateauZhangLafite.TheownerisobviouslyMrZhang,andthechateauismodelledonChateauLafiteinFrance-atleastsortof.ThenameLafiteiscertainlyaverysmartname,asitisassociatedwithanextremelyfine(andexpensive)wine-ChateauLafite!Themostextraordinarythingaboutthisconstructionisthatitshouldbefound,asareplica,inPeking,justa15minutes'drivefromtheairport.EvenmoreamazingisthatthegardenismodelledonVersailles.
ItisstrangeindeedtoseetheChateauinPeking.Onedoesn'texpecttoseeanythinglikeit.Weareofcourseusedtoskyscrapers,uglyanduglierskyscrapers,builtalloverthecapital,butonewouldnotexpectareplicaFrenchchateau.Theowner,MrZhang,isaveryaffableman.Heisveryproudofhisestate,foritisanestate.Andrightlyso.Theworkmanship,atleastoutside,isfaultless.Onabeautifuldaywithclearbluesky,IvisitedMrZhangwithmywifeandourfriend,TomParker-Bowles,sonofCamilla,whoismarriedtoPrinceCharles.Asabitofanaristo,Tom,whoisofcoursenowthestepsonofPrinceCharles,knowsathingortwoaboutpalacesandgrandplaces.Butevenhewasastonished-aswewere.MrZhang,ourhost,couldnothavebeennicernormorehospitable.Hegaveusasumptuouslunch-butmindyou,noChateauLafite!
WhatiswonderfultomeisthatthereareChinesemainlanderswhoareseeminglyaseccentricasMrZhang.Iadmirerichpeopleinthemainlandbecausetheymusthaveexcelled-intheCharlesDarwinworldoftheevolutionofthespecies,theymusthavebeenthesurvivorsofthefittest.Sotheyarethewinners.Andasawinner,MrZhangcouldhavebuiltanotherboringskyscraperofashoppingmallorahoteloranofficeblock.Butno,heboughthundredsofacresofland,andhebuiltamassiveFrenchchateausurroundedbybeautifullandscapedgardens.Forme,itistrulywonderfulthatthereareseeminglycrazypeoplelikeMrZhang.Ilovethewaythathedidsomethingcompletelydifferentandutterlyunexpected.IhopeMrZhangnowbuildssomethinglikeBavaria'sNeuschwanstein,originallyconceivedbythemadKingLudwig,andafterwhichWaltDisneymodelledhisownfantasytower!Theneventually,someonewillthinkaboutduplicatingtheForbiddenCity,andthatwouldaccidentallyrestorethetruegloryofChinesearhictectureandculturetoChina!
Talkingofbuildings,IreadinthenewspaperthatthatmarvellousChinesehouseat45StubbsRoadisbeingsoldprivatelyforHK$450million.Whydoesn'ttheGovernmentbuyit?Orwhydoesn'tatycoonoraconsortiumoftycoonsgettogetherandbuyitforHongKong?Thehouseisclearlyunique,anditwillbeanotherdreadfultravestyofheritageifsomegreedydeveloperweretogethishandsonit,andthenpullthewholethingdowntomakewayforyetanotherphoneyhigh-endresidentialblock.Brain-blockiswhatcomestomymindwhenthesethingshappen.
JustlookatthewayinwhichlastmonthhowPrinceCharlesledaconsortiumwith£45millionandboughtfortheBritishnationanextraordinaryhouseinScotlandcalledDumfries.Thishousewasimportantnotonlyasanarchitecturalmasterpiece,butinside,agreatdealofthecontentshadsignificantvalue.SomeofChippendale'sfinestworksarefoundamongstthefurniture.
TherewasjubilationalloverBritainwhenthishousewassaved.Sowhycan'twedoitinHongKong?WeareinfinitelywealthierthantheBrits,andisn'tituncannythatthenumber45figuredinbothDumfriesand45StubbsRoad?Onefor£45million;theotherforHK$450million.AndeventheaddressatStubbsRoadis45!Comeon!Isittoolateforsomeone,orsomeonetogetherwithsomeoneelse,orsimplytheGovernment,tobitethebulletandbuyitandsaveitforHongKong?Ifwearereallyseriousaboutthepreservationofourheritage,thereisnofinerexample.ThebuildingcanbeturnedintoaHongKongmuseumthatrecordsthevernacularlifeofHongKong.Therewon'tbeabetterlocationorabuildinginwhichthiscanbedone.Don'tsayIhaven'twarnedyouallhownottomissthisgreatopportunity!
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