Watervale House, Former Gordon Hard Camp: Tuen Mun Soul Oasis

• Selected applicant: The Tuen Mun Soul Oasis Foundation Limited
• Capital cost: About HK$74.8 million (as at Nov 2016 price level)
• Government subsidy required for operation of social enterprise: About HK$4.05 million

General Project Description

• To revitalise Watervale House, Former Gordon Hard Camp into a place for people to relax and enjoy at leisure. A restaurant providing Gurkha food will also be housed in the site to promote Gurkha culture;
• To promote a positive lifestyle to the public through a variety of classes, courses and workshop on positive thinking and spiritual development. Themed guided tours to visit Tuen Mun historic sites, military sites, traditional temples and ancestral halls will also be organised to enhance visitors’ understanding of local history.

Historical Significance

The historical significance of the building will be demonstrated and maintained by:

• Retaining the external outlook of the building intact, and conducting research and study on the original use of the building;
• Displaying the military history of Tuen Mun from the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時期) to the period when Gurkha soldiers served the British Army. Life of Feng Rui, the former owner of Watervale House, will also be shown in the area;
• Serving Gurkha food in the restaurant to promote the food culture of the Grukha soldiers; and
• Recording the whole revitalisation process with photographic, surveying and written records. These materials will be displayed in the exhibition area.

Technical Aspects

Tuen Mun Soul Oasis complies with conservation guidelines by:

• Complying with modern day requirements;
• Restoring the Main Block and retaining the former setting of the Watervale House as a British military officers’ mess. This helps visitors to appreciate the heritage values of the historic building;
• Preserving most of the facade and internal partitions of the existing building. Underground water tank and pump room is proposed to avoid the obstruction of the facade of the historic building; and
• Modifying the open spaces, gardens and platforms of the site to create an open view.

Social Benefits

The project will bring benefits to the society by:

• Converting the site into a spiritual learning centre, promoting spiritual improvement via meditation and classes on positive thinking and stress relief;
• Offering a significant portion of job positions to the local residents and enhancing social cohesion of the local community as a whole;
• Employing ethnic minority as the chef of the restaurant providing Gurkha food. It helps promote ethnic minority culture in Hong Kong;
• Providing educational and leisure activities for local residents and visitors under a relaxing environment. The proposed activities will also provide other learning experiences for students and youths; and
• Organising different types of guided tours which covers most of the area on the site. This provides visitors with a holistic understanding of the historic building and the history of the surrounding areas.

Selected Organisation

The Tuen Mun Oasis Fundation Limited is a charitable institution founded in 2017 to promote the concept of life education. It will provide different courses and activities on spiritual health, culture and history appreciation, etc. Other learning opportunities will also be given to students and youths to enhance their holistic growth.

Way Forward

• The selected organisation has to:
  • complete the detailed project design;
  • complete the required administrative procedures;
  • seek planning permission (where applicable) from the Town Planning Board on the intended usage;
  • seek formal funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council;
  • carry out the renovation work (anticipated renovation period: around 18 months);
  • apply for licences (where applicable) for intended operations; and
  • sign with the Government agreements on operations of the social enterprise and preservation of the historic building.
• Anticipated Project Commissioning Time: 2022
• Anticipated Breakeven Time: Year 3