Hong Kong 2003
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Heritage

Antiquities Advisory Board and Antiquities and Monuments Office

The LCSD's Antiquities and Monuments Office continued to preserve Hong Kong's heritage and promote public awareness of it through exhibitions, guided tours, publications and community involvement projects.

The Antiquities Advisory Board comprises 21 appointed members. It advises the Government on sites and structures that merit protection by declaring them as monuments and on other matters related to antiquities and monuments.

In 2003, the Antiquities and Monuments Office continued to undertake restoration and repair works at various historical buildings, including the Hau Mei Fung Ancestral Hall in Sheung Shui, the Tin Hau Temple in Causeway Bay, the Old House at Wong Uk Village in Sha Tin, the Pak Mong Watchtower and its Gate House on Lantau Island, and the Lawson's Bunker and Former West Brigade Headquarters in Wong Nai Chung Gap.

To encourage and assist owners of private historical buildings to participate in conservation works, the office provided technical advice and support to such owners in their maintenance and restoration projects. In a restoration project concerning the Liu Ying Lung Study Hall in Sheung Shui, a technical team from the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology was invited with the assistance of the office to conduct a cartographic survey of the historical building, and give advice on the conservation plan.

In its endeavours to preserve cultural heritage in the face of impending development projects, the office conducted Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and various conservation studies. Examples were the heritage impact assessment study concerning the Extension of the North Point Low Level Salt Water Supply System, and the consultancy study on the feasibility of protecting the Tat Tak Communal Hall in Ping Shan, Yuen Long from the threat of serious flooding, and on the conservation plan for the hall. Other heritage conservation studies included a feasibility study on the preservation of Old Cable House in Telegraph Bay in Southern District, feasibility study on the preservation of Lee Tat Bridge and realignment of a new bridge in Shui Tsan Tin Tsuen in Pat Heung, Yuen Long, and a conservation assessment of the built heritage of Tung Ping Chau.

The office continued to contribute to the EIA for development projects, and monitored field investigations and implementation of mitigation measures under the Heritage Impact Assessment. For example, terrestrial and marine archaeological investigations and studies were conducted for the Shatin to Central Rail Link and the South-East Kowloon Development plan.

To save the archaeological heritage from destruction by development projects at the former Tai Hom Village in Kowloon and Telegraph Bay on Hong Kong Island, rescue excavations were launched in October 2002 and May 2003, respectively. Ceramic vessels of the Song and Ming dynasties were retrieved from the village and a kiln structure dating to the Tang dynasty was discovered at the bay.

Rescue excavations were carried out at Ngau Hom Shek, Tsing Chuen Wai and Lam Tei to facilitate implementation of the approved EIA reports and relevant conditions in the Environmental Permits concerning two major road projects, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor and the Deep Bay Link. Archaeological investigations and rescue excavations were also arranged before works began on village house developments in areas such as Tuen Mun and Sha Tau Kok, and road improvement projects at Chi Ma Wan Road on Lantau Island and at Tuen Mun Road.

Lord Wilson Heritage Trust

The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust was established in 1992, following the enactment of an ordinance bearing the same name. It aims to promote the preservation and conservation of Hong Kong's heritage.

During the year, apart from sponsoring $1.85 million for eight heritage-related activities and research projects, the trust granted $160,290 to the Summer Youth Programme Committee for organising heritage-related activities in local districts. Participation in these activities helps young people to develop an interest in preserving Hong Kong's heritage.

     
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