8.1.1 Mitigation measures to reduce cultural heritage impacts are recommended as follows:
The Chung Shan Cemetery (Permitted Burial Ground No. 22)
8.1.2 The entire cemetery and each grave in the cemetery should be recorded in detail to the satisfaction of the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The form of the recording should include written text, photographs, basic measurements and location plans. The content of the recording should include:
8.1.3 The recording should be undertaken by a qualified archaeologist and the results submitted to the AMO for study and record before the commencement of grave relocation.
The Ngau Hom Shek Beach Site and Remaining Coastal Area in Ngau Hom Shek
8.1.4 The western part of the Ngau Hom Shek Beach Site is located within the range of direct impact of DBL and the landing point of SWC. A rescue excavation therefore should be carried out in the project area with earthworks and building works in this area by the project proponent. The remaining part of the site will not be directly affected by the construction but it should be protected from potential indirect impact with a layer of soil (30 cm minimum) covered on the top.
8.1.5 The total size of the rescue excavation at the Ngau Hom
Shek Beach Site is tentatively estimated 100 square metres (pending the specific
design of earthwork and building works). The average depth of cultural deposit
is around 1.5 metres according to the result of augering on the site and the
estimated time length of field work for the rescue excavation is one month
(based on an assumption that one qualified archaeologist, four experienced field
assistants and eight labour workers are participated in the excavation; the same
assumption is also taken for the estimation of the time length of field work on
other sites).
8.1.6 The coastal area in Ngau Hom Shek to the immediate west of the DBL alignment is not accessible for archaeological survey at this stage but the possibility of identifying significant archaeological remains can not be completely excluded, although the archaeological potential of this area is low. It is recommended therefore to conduct a further archaeological survey and, if necessary, to carry out a rescue excavation in the project area with earthworks and building works by the project proponent after land resumption and before the commencement of construction work. The areas where archaeological survey, rescue excavation and protection from indirect impact are required in coastal Ngau Hom Shek are indicated by Figure 8.1.
8.1.7 The archaeological survey and excavation in Ngau Hom Shek should be conducted by a qualified archaeologist who should apply for a Licence under the provision of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap.53). The entire process of licence approval takes minimum two months after submitting the application. The programme and details of the archaeological works should be agreed with the AMO. The same requirement and time span of licence application also apply to other rescue excavations mentioned below.
The Ngau Hom Shek Hill Site with Archaeological Significance
8.1.8 The Ngau Hom Shek Hill Site of the prehistoric period is located slightly outside and above the impact zone of the proposed DBL, the construction therefore will not cause direct adverse impact to this site (Figure 8.1). It should be emphasized, however, the site area should be protected from indirect impact potentially caused by the construction, and facilities and activities related to the construction should be kept away from this site during the entire process of construction.
The Tsing Chuen Wai Site with Archaeological Significance
8.1.9 The central area with concentrated deposit of tiles of the Tsing Chuen Wai Site of the Ming dynasty is around 4,800 square metres in size and this area is entirely located within the impact zone of the DBL alignment (Figure 8.2 - 1). A rescue excavation therefore should be carried out in the project area with earthworks and building works in this area by the project proponent before the construction of the site.
8.1.10 It is recommended to allocate three long test trenches along the traces of tiles on the tiers of the low terrace, with a size of 30 m x 3 m, 20 m x 3 m and 10 m x 3 m, respectively. Besides, additional four square test pits of 5 m x 5 m will be allocated in other parts of the site. The total size of rescue excavation at this site is 280 square metres and the fieldwork is estimated taking two and half months.
The Lam Tei Site with Archaeological Significance
8.1.11 The size of the Lam Tei Site is around 3,200 square metres and the site is entirely located within the impact zone of the DBL alignment (Figure 8.2 - 2). A rescue excavation therefore should be carried out in the project area with earthworks and building works in this area by the project proponent before the construction of the site.
8.1.12 It is recommended to allocate 20 small test pits of 2 m x 2 m first in the excavation to locate the central area of the site with concentrated structural features. The initial test pits with important findings will then be expanded. The total size of salvage excavation is estimated 200 square metres and fieldwork will be completed within two months.