THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S  enthusiasm for heritage buildings, fuelled by the thirst for tourist dollars, is not shared by everyone. We recall that  the Lin Radio building at Burmah Road was torn down despite the fact it was widely known as an "old" building. There was not a murmur of protest.  The offence cost the developer a slap on the wrist, a mere fine of a few thousand dollars. Next to go down was the home of the famed Khaw family of Ranong - Chakrabong (occupied by the "Hotel Metropole"), despite its even greater reputation. The developer was formally reprimanded and ordered to restore the facade. But the company seems to have collapsed; all development has come to a halt. 

Two years ago, a few more buildings, old neighbours of the E&O were torn down, this time by a government subsidiary. It was said to have been a "mistake," for which no one was punished. Recently, no doubt emboldened by  precedent, the building that housed the St George's Girls School in 1870, in the same area, was destroyed, this time by a company in which the government had a share. Was it an ignorant, innocent act of vandalism? Apparently not. It seems that that area of land has been approved for the building of a luxury hotel reaching down to the sea, and it seems that the PDC has a share in the project.. Which raises the question: is heritage to be ignored when the state is in partnership with a rogue company? And another question: why does a modern hotel project have priority over the conservation and preservation of historical buildings?