8.1.1
This section presents a cultural
heritage impact assessment of the project, identifying cultural heritage resources
such as archaeological sites, built heritage structures and assessing potential
direct and indirect impacts from proposed works on these resource, and
recommending mitigation of impacts where required.
8.2.1
The following two Ordinances are the
main tools for the protection of Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong:
Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap.53)
8.2.2
The Antiquities and Monuments
Ordinance (Cap. 53) was enacted in 1976 and provides the statutory framework to
provide for the preservation of objects of historical, archaeological and
palaeontological interest.
8.2.3
The Ordinance contains the statutory
procedures for the Declaration of Monuments. The proposed monument can be any
place, building, site or structure, which is considered to be of public
interest by reason of its historical, archaeological or palaeontological
significance.
8.2.4
Under Section 6 and subject to
subsection (4) of the Ordinance, the following acts are prohibited in relation
to certain monuments, except under permit;
·
To excavate, carry on building works,
plant or fell trees or deposit earth or refuse on or in a proposed monument or
monument
·
To demolish, remove, obstruct, deface
or interfere with a proposed monument or monument
8.2.5
The discovery of an Antiquity, as
defined in the Ordinance must be reported to the Authority, or a designated
person. The Ordinance also provides that, the ownership of every relic
discovered in Hong Kong after the commencement of this ordinance shall vest in
the Government from the moment of discovery. The Authority on behalf of the
government may disclaim ownership of the relic.
8.2.6
No archaeological excavation may be
carried out by any person, other than the Authority, without a licence issued
by the Authority. A licence will only be issued if the Authority is satisfied
that the applicant has sufficient scientific training or experience to enable
him to carry out the excavation and search satisfactorily, has sufficient staff
and financial support.
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499)
8.2.7
The Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap. 499) provides additional legislative protection to sites
of cultural heritage which are threatened by development and the Environmental
Protection Department is its authority.
The Technical Memorandum contains the guidelines and criteria for the
assessment of sites of cultural heritage interest.
8.3.1
The impact assessment follows the
Antiquities and Monuments Office Criteria
for Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment and will fulfil the requirements as
set out in Annex 10 and 19 of the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (EIA
Ordinance, Cap. 499, S.16), based on field surveys that were conducted for the
project in November 2003 as described below.
Archaeology
8.3.2
Field Scan of the natural landscape in
a systematic manner, with attention to areas of exposed soil and recent cuts,
covering the area within the project.
8.3.3
Systematic Auger Survey of the identified
areas, which will be impacted by proposed works in order to established soil
sequence, the presence/ absence of cultural soils or deposits and their
horizontal extent. A minimum of 40
auger holes at representative locations along the project alignment was
adopted, with particular emphasis on the area within the Chung Hau
Archaeological Site.
8.3.4
Test Pit Excavation in areas of
archaeological potential identified by surface scan and auger testing; hand
digging of pits measuring 2 by 2 metres in order to determine the
presence/absence of archaeological deposits and their stratigraphy. A minimum of four test pits in locations
identified by the field scan and auger testing should be adopted.
8.3.5
Detailed requirements for identified areas
of archaeological potential are presented in Table 8.1.
Table
8.1 Requirements for identified
areas of archaeological potential
|
Field
Scan
|
Auger
Survey
|
Test
Pit Excavation
|
|
Required
within the area boundary
|
A
minimum of 40 auger holes at representative locations along the project
alignment
|
A
minimum of 4 test pits in locations identified by the field scan and auger
testing
|
Built Heritage
8.3.6
Definition of features that fall within
the scope of Built Heritage Survey:
·
all
pre 1950 structures, these include any built feature (apart from graves and
historical land use features, which are dealt with separately), such as: domestic
structures, ancestral halls, temples, shrines, monasteries and nunneries,
village gates, wells, schools, historic walls, bridges and stone tablets.
·
any post 1950 structure deemed to
possess features containing architectural or cultural merit;
·
All pre-war clan graves;
·
Cultural landscape features, such as
fung shui woods and ponds; and
·
Historical land use features, such as
historical tracks and pathways, stone walls and terraces, ponds and other
agricultural features.
8.3.7
Detailed Recording of all Identified
Built Heritage Resources in the following categories:
·
Built structures;
·
Graves;
·
Cultural landscape features, such as
fung shui woods and ponds; and
·
Historical land use features.
8.3.8
Interviews with local informants, including
residents and village elders.
·
The interviews should be used to
gather information, such as, cultural and historical background of the
structures and the villages; historical events associated with the structures
and villages
8.3.9
Systematic documentation of all
recorded resources within each of the categories listed below must be
undertaken.
i) For Built Structures
·
A photographic record of each building
or structure including the exterior (the elevations of all faces of the building
premises, the roof, close up for special architectural details) and the
interior (special architectural details) where possible, as well as the
surroundings of the feature;
·
The location of each recorded feature
highlighted on a 1:1000 scale map;
·
Written descriptions of each recorded
feature, including: age of structure, details of architectural features,
condition of the structure, past and present uses, architectural appraisal,
notes on any modifications, direction faced and associations with historical/
cultural events or individuals; and
·
A description of the surrounding
environment; for isolated structures this must be done on an individual basis.
The description for structures within a village can be covered by a village
background summary, this must include physical and cultural attributes, such as
orientation of villages to any identified fung shui features, general condition
of structures, settlement history, historical economic activities and
associated clans.
ii) For Graves
·
The location of the each recorded
feature highlighted on a 1:1000 scale map, direction faced;
·
A written description of each recorded
grave including its immediate surrounding environment such as trees, types of
paving, concerned villages etc;
·
A photographic record of each grave
including general views, oblique views, close-up detail of calligraphy,
ornamented features and construction patterns;
·
A copy of the inscription; and
·
Dimensions.
iii) For Cultural Landscape Features
·
The location of each recorded feature
highlighted on a 1:1000 scale map;
·
Written description of each recorded
feature, including information gathered from interviews with local informants;
and
·
A photographic record of each recorded
features.
iv) For Historical Land Use Features
·
The location of each recorded feature
highlighted on a 1:1000 scale map;
·
Written description of each recorded
feature, including information gathered from interviews with local informants;
and
·
A photographic record of each feature.
8.3.10
The scope of the survey will cover the
alignments and works areas as well as areas within close proximity to them,
which shall be defined as being a distance of 20 metres on either side. Special
attention shall be paid to the Chung Hau Archaeological Site, historic buildings
and structures in the vicinity of the proposed project including the following
historic building: the two historical watch towers at Luk Tei Tong and Chung
Hau (Yuen Family Compound).
It will also cover any Declared Monuments, graded
buildings and historical villages identified in the desk-based research.
Archaeology
Geological and Topographical Background
8.4.1
Luk Tei Tong River, Tai Tei Tong River
and Pak Ngan Heung River discharge water to River Silver, which is located at the
heart of Mui Wo of Lantau Island. The superficial geology of the area is
underlain by alluvium and debris flow deposits. The inferred solid geology of the general area comprises fine- to
medium-grained granite and minor intrusion of feldsparphyric rhyolite. At Luk Tei Tong River, the inferred solid
geology is fine-grained quartz syenite. Based on the results of site
investigations, the sub-soil conditions are found to comprise the following
strata included fill, debris flow deposit, alluvium, decomposed Granite, and
bedrock. A thick debris flow deposit is
locally found in Tai Tei Tong River.
Archaeological Site
8.4.2
Chung Hau Archaeological Site was
identified as a site of archaeological interest by the Antiquities and Monuments
Office (AMO). Tang Dynasty kiln debris was collected in previous surveys.
AIA Area 1: LUK TEI TONG RIVER
Field Scan
Results
8.4.3
The field scan at the Luk Tei Tong
River alignment study area showed that the area supports high grasses and the
visibility of the surface is poor.
Portions of the study area showed water on surface. The stream bed as far as possible was
scanned for artefacts. No finds were recorded within this alignment.
Auger Hole
Tests Results
8.4.4
The Luk Tei Tong River study area alignments
will have impact on the river and stream banks. Previous testing in the vicinity of this alignment and the Tai
Tei Tong River alignment showed the area fairly recent sterile alluvial
deposits with high water table. These areas were therefore excluded from
further testing.
Test Pit Excavations
8.4.5
AIA Area 1 was excluded from test pit
excavation.
AIA Area 2: TAI TEI TONG RIVER
Field Scan
Results
8.4.6
The Tai Tei Tong River study area alignment
was walked in areas as close as possible to and within the study area. To the north of the river most of the area
support agricultural fields and the surface visibility was good. To the south of the river high vegetation,
such as grass and scrub obscured the surface visibility. The stream bed as far as possible was
scanned for artefacts. No finds were recorded within this alignment.
Auger Hole
Tests Results
8.4.7
The Tai Tei Tong River study area
alignments will have impact on the river and stream banks. Previous testing in the vicinity of this
alignment showed the area fairly recent sterile alluvial deposits with high
water table. These areas were therefore excluded from further testing.
Test Pit
Excavations
8.4.8
AIA Area 2 was excluded from test pit
excavation.
AIA Area 3: PAK NGAN HEUNG
RIVER
Field Scan Results
8.4.9
The field scan at Pak Ngan Heung River
study area alignment showed portions
which support heavy vegetation or have surface water. The stream bed as far as
possible was scanned for artefacts. No finds were recorded within this
alignment.
Auger Hole
Tests Results
8.4.10
Six investigation areas within the Pak
Ngan Heung River study area alignment are marked on Figure 8.1:
·
Area A is located to the north of the alignment and has
been terraced for agricultural purposes.
A total of 10 auger hole tests (AH 7 to 16) were conducted in Area A.
The auger hole tests ranged between 0.22 and 1.10 metre below the surface and
all, but one test were abandoned due to rock encounter. The soil results indicated that the area
consists of an alluvial deposit of silt and sand with cobbles and
boulders. The finds in this area
included a red tile fragment recovered from AH 8 at a depth of 0.24 metre below
the surface and a red tile fragment from AH 14 found at a depth of 0.15 metre
below the surface. Both finds are
recent and are located within the agricultural topsoil of the area.
·
Area B is located to the south of Area A between the
road and the river. The area is
abandoned and supports high grasses and some banana trees. A total of seven auger hole tests (AH 17 to
23) were conducted. The auger hole tests ranged between 0.09 and 0.91 metre
below the surface and all tests were abandoned due to rock encounter. The soil results indicated that the area
consists of an alluvial deposit of silt and sand with cobbles and
boulders. The finds in this area
included an undiagnostic sherd recovered from the surface of AH 20 and green
glazed sherd dated to the Late Song Dynasty (A.D.1127-1279) found in AH 23 at a
depth of 0.45 metre below the surface.
·
Area C is located to the south of the road and west of
the river. The northern part supports
high grasses and a few trees, while the southern portion is very wet with surface
water and ginger flower vegetation. A
total of seven auger hole tests (AH 24 to 27 and 38 to 40) were carried out.
The auger hole tests ranged between 0.24 and 0.54 metre below the surface and
the tests were abandoned due to rock encounter and one failed to hold the
soil. The soil results indicated that
the area consists of an alluvial deposit of silt and sand with cobbles and
boulders. The finds in this area
include a provincial porcelain sherd body fragment found in AH 26 at a depth of
0.23 metre below the surface and a tiny sherd with eroding green glaze which
possibly dates back to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907) was found in AH 38 at a
depth of 0.15 metre below the surface.
·
Area D is the proposed turning bay location. The area is abandoned and supports
grasses. A total of ten auger hole
tests (AH 28 to 37) were conducted. The auger hole tests ranged between 0.39
and 1.49 metres below the surface and the tests were abandoned due to rock
encounter or when end of auger was reached. The soil results indicated that the
area consists of an alluvial deposit of silt and sand with few cobbles and
boulders. No finds were recovered from
the auger testing programme in this area.
·
The existing U-channel south of Butterfly Hill around
the low-lying area of Ling Tsui Tau Tsuen into the Pak Ngan Heung River showed
hill cutting, while the area to the extreme west, between Butterfly Hill and
the Pak Ngan Heung River was available for testing, (Area E in Figure 8.1). A total of six auger hole tests (AH 1 to 6)
were conducted in this area. The auger hole tests ranged between 0.05 and 0.94
metre below the surface and the tests were all abandoned due to rock encounter.
The soil results indicated that the area consists of an alluvial deposit of
silt and sand with cobbles and boulders.
No finds were recovered from the auger testing programme in this area.
·
Four extra auger hole tests (AH 41 to 44) were
conducted to the south of the U-channel outside the study area in Area F (Figure
8.1) as requested by AMO. The results
indicate the stratigraphy in this area consists of a large sand deposit. Two recent red tile fragments were retrieved
from auger test 42 at a depth of approximately 0.17 metre. While no other artefacts were recovered,
some sand strata were fiery red in colour and may be connected to Tang Kiln
material previously found in the Chung Hau area (Ray Ma Pers. comm.).
Test Pit
Excavations
Test pit 1
8.4.11
The test pit measured 2 by 2 metres
and was located within Area B near AH 20 and 22. The test pit was hand
excavated to a depth between 0.25 and 0.65 metre. No auger hole was conducted
to further verify the underlying stratigraphy as the test pit was abandoned due
to boulders. The pit was back filled
after recording. Temporary Bench Mark
(TBM) (4.5m PD) was taken on the bridge crossing the Pak Ngan Heung River. The corners of the test pit are located at
PD height between 3.9 and 3.96 metres.
8.4.12
A total of three contexts were
recorded. Context 01 consisted of greyish
brown very slightly gravelly and very slightly clayey silt. This topsoil included roots and eight tile
fragments, one chipped tile disc and two glazed village ware sherds. The
topsoil had a thickness of approximately 0.25 metre. Context 02 was yellowish
brown very silty, slightly sandy and slightly gravelly clay. The alluvial layer contained cobbles and
small rounded boulders as well as a single tiny glazed village ware sherd. This layer had a recorded thickness between
0.18 and 0.30 metre. Context 03
consisted of light greyish brown very clayey and slightly silty gravel with
rounded cobbles and boulders. This alluvial layer was excavated for a thickness of maximum 0.45
metre and no finds were recorded within.
The hand excavation was halted due to large boulders at a maximum depth
of 0.78 metre below the surface. No auger hole test was attempted.
Test pit 2
8.4.13
The test pit measured 2 by 2 metres
and was located within Area C. The test
pit was hand excavated to a depth of 1.13 metres. The hand excavation of the
pit was halted when water table was reached at a level of approximately 1.10
metres below the surface. An auger hole
was conducted to further verify the underlying stratigraphy but after several
attempts the auger hole test was abandoned as rock was reached at shallow
depths. The pit was back filled after
recording. TBM (4.5m PD) was taken on
the bridge crossing the Pak Ngan Heung River.
The corners of the test pit are located at PD height between 5.28 and
5.35 metres.
8.4.14
A total of six contexts were
recorded. Context 01 was dark greyish
brown sandy and slightly gravelly silt.
The topsoil contained concrete fragments and plastic rubbish, and no
artefacts were collected from this context.
The topsoil had a thickness between 0.06 and 0.12 metre. Context 02
consisted of light greyish brown very slightly gravelly and very slightly
clayey, silty sand with the occasional rounded to sub-rounded cobbles. This subsoil contained two small glazed
village ware sherds and a small tile fragment and had a thickness of
approximately 0.15 metre. Context 03
was yellowish brown compacted very slightly sandy and very slightly gravelly,
clayey silt with abundance of rounded cobbles.
This alluvial layer contained no artefacts and had a recorded thickness
of 0.10 metre. The three above contexts are interpreted as the agricultural
layer. Context 04 consisted of dark yellowish brown slightly gravelly sandy
silt with abundance of rounded cobbles and a single plain eroded coarse ware
sherd. This fluvial layer had a
thickness between 0.37 and 0.46 metre.
Context 05 was light yellowish brown slightly clayey and very gravelly
sterile alluvial silt with a thickness of approximately 0.35 metre. Context 06 consisted of light brownish grey
slightly sandy and very silty gravel with rounded cobbles. Context 06 was
recorded at a depth of approximately 1 metre below the surface. Water table was reached at a depth of
approximately 1.10 metres. An auger
test was conducted to further verify the underlying stratigraphy. Context 06
was recorded to a depth of 1.35 metres where rock was encountered and the auger
test abandoned.
Test pit 3
8.4.15
The test pit measured 2 by 2 metres
and was located within Area E. The test
pit was hand excavated to a maximum depth of 1.28 metres below the
surface. The test pit excavation was
halted when water table was reached at a depth of approximately 1.25 metres
below the surface. An auger hole was
attempted to further verify the underlying stratigraphy, however it had to be
abandoned due to boulders and cobbles.
The pit was back filled after recording. TBM (4.5m PD) was taken on the bridge crossing the Pak Ngan Heung
River. The corners of the test pit are
located at PD height between 3.39 and 3.44 metres.
8.4.16
A total of six contexts were recorded.
Context 01 was dark yellowish brown
slightly sandy, gravelly and clayey silt with small sub-rounded cobbles. The topsoil had a thickness of approximately
0.05 metre and contained a small amount of modern rubbish. Context 02 was light greyish brown sandy, gravelly
and cobbley very silty clay. This
context represents the fill material of a pipe excavation on the southwest
corner of the test pit. The fill
contained a single small porcelain fragment.
The fill had a thickness of 0.10 metre at the northeastern end of the
test pit and 0.65 metre under the pipe.
Context 03 was dark greyish brown very slightly gravelly, slightly
sandy, silty alluvial clay. The layer
included two pink tile fragments, one chipped tile disc, a glazed village ware
rim and plain village ware sherd.
Context 04 was grey very slightly gravelly, slightly clayey and slightly
silty sand. The alluvial sands
contained twelve small pink tile fragments, three glazed village ware sherds
and single porcelain cup fragment. Context 05 was grey with light reddish
yellow streaks very slightly gravelly, slightly silty and very sandy clay. This alluvial layer included two glazed
village ware sherds and a porcelain fragment. Context 06 consisted of
dark grey slightly clayey and slightly sandy gravel with clay patches and
cobbles and boulders. This alluvial/
fluvial layer contained numerous village ware sherds (33 fragments of both
glazed and unglazed sherds). This
assemblage can be dated to the Tang Dynasty (AD. 618-907), the green glazed
bowl fragment is the exception and may be younger in date (P. Lam personal
communication). The sherds do not
appear to have been transported over a long distance, and are interpreted as in situ deposit. The test pit excavation was halted when water table was reached while
the context 06 continued.
Test pit 4
8.4.17
The test pit measured 2 by 2 metres
and was located within Area D. The test
pit was hand excavated to a depth between 0.98 and 1.05 metres. The test pit excavation
was halted when water table was reached at a depth of approximately 1.02 metres
below the surface. An auger hole was conducted to further verify the underlying
stratigraphy and the pit was back filled after recording. TBM (4.5m PD) was taken on the bridge
crossing the Pak Ngan Heung River. The
corners of the test pit are located at PD height between 3.05 and 3.08 metres.
8.4.18
A total of six contexts were
recorded. Context 01 was dark greyish
brown very slightly clayey, very slightly gravelly sandy silt. The topsoil included roots and few pink
small tile fragments and a glazed village ware sherd and had a thickness
between 0.14 and 0.20 metre. Context 02
consisted of light greyish brown very slightly gravelly, very slightly clayey,
very sandy silt with nine small pink rounded tile fragments and two village
ware fragments. This alluvial layer had a thickness of approximately 0.15
metre. Context 03 was recorded at a
depth of 0.30 metre below the surface and consisted of yellowish brown gravelly
and silty sand with the occasional decomposing cobble. The alluvial layer included a single glazed
village ware sherd and had a thickness of approximately 0.28 metre. Context 04 was blueish grey very silty moist
sand with the occasional sub-rounded cobble and had a thickness of
approximately 0.23 metre. Context 05
was yellowish brown slightly silty, sandy wet and sterile gravel with the
occasional cobble. This layer had a thickness of approximately 0.30 metre. Finally Context 06 was recorded at a depth
of 1 metre below the surface and hand excavated to a depth of 1.06 metres below
the surface when water table was reached.
It consisted of wet and sterile grey sand/gravel. Context 07 was recorded within the auger
test and consisted of dark grey wet gravelly sand at a depth of 1.24 metres
below the surface.
Built Heritage
8.4.19
There were no Declared Monuments
within 20 metres of the proposed channel alignment. Two historic buildings,
including the two historical watchtowers at Luk Tei Tong and Chung Hau (Yuen Family
Compound) was found to locate next to the proposed alignment in Luk Tei Tong
River.
8.4.20
A total of 14 resources were recorded
in the field survey. The majority of the structures were located in the Yuen
family compound at Chung Hau. Two other heritage resources were recorded, the
historical watchtower at Luk Tei Tong and a shrine in Ling Tsui Tau Village.
BH Area
1: LUK TEI TONG RIVER
8.4.21
A total of 12 resources were
identified and recorded within the survey boundary (AAHB-727 through 738). The
location of the resources with respect to the alignment can be seen in Figure
8.2. As the alignment is in very close proximity to the recorded resources,
the locations have also been marked on a base map (i.e. one not showing the
alignment) for ease of identification, see Figure 8.3. All of the
resources were located within the confines of the Yuen Family Compound, a
privately owned residence. The compound was established by present owner's
grandfather, Mr. Yuen Kwan Yu in the 1920s, who immigrated to Mui Wo from Guangdong.
The buildings within the compound are constructed of cut granite blocks, the
material for which was collected from Lai Chi Yuen Hill, Mui Wo. The compound
contains a watchtower that was built for protection against pirates and
thieves, according to the current owner.
8.4.22
Shortly after the establishment of the
PRC (1949-50) over 200 people lived in the Yuen Compound. They were all clan members who came to
Lantau from Guangdong. Most of them worked
as farmers and later moved to other parts of Mui Wo. At this point, the Yuen
family employed over 40 workers. They
owned a rice field and there was a threshing floor in front of the pond. The rice was for consumption by the people
living on the Compound and any excess was sold to villagers in Mui Wo or Cheung
Chau. There is a modern house (built in about 1975 according to the current
owner) located between buildings AAHB – 733 and 734. This house was built on
the site of the original sugar cane processing shed, which was no longer in use
since the 1970’s.
8.4.23
Although not within the survey
boundary, the watchtower at Luk Tei Tong was highlighted in the tender document
and has been recorded as part of the field survey (AAHB-740). The construction
of the tower has been dated to approximately 1930 by local informants. The
tower was constructed for protection against bandits. The people of Luk Tei
Tong came from Po On and Ng Wah. The clans of the village are Tsang, Kam, Lam,
Wong and Wan. The tower is located approximately 220 metres from the nearest
works area. The location of the tower is highlighted on Figure 8.4.
8.4.24
No grave or cultural / historical
landscape resources were identified in the survey area.
BH Area
2: TAI TEI TONG RIVER
8.4.25
No built heritage, grave or cultural /
historical landscape resources were identified in this survey area.
AIA Area 3: PAK NGAN HEUNG
RIVER
8.4.26
This is not the site of an historical
village. According to local informants, the area was settled by mainland immigrants
after 1949. A shrine (AAHB-739) was identified in the survey and its location
with respect to the proposed works areas can be seen in Figure 8.1. No
grave or cultural / historical landscape resources were identified in the
survey area.
Archaeology
Nature of Potential Impacts
8.5.1
The nature of the impacts associated
with the proposed drainage improvement works may include:
(i) sub-surface impacts resulting in loss of archaeological
deposits or strata;
(ii) major disruption of groundwater flow may
result in displacement of artefacts in soft soil deposits; and
(iii) major soil borrowing in the vicinity of
archaeological deposits or features may result in displacement of artefacts in
soft soil deposits.
Assessment of Impacts
8.5.2
The majority of the datable finds were
widely dispersed and represented displaced small pottery finds within alluvial
deposit. However, during the excavation
of Test Pit 3 in Area E, which lies within the boundary of Chung Hau
Archaeological Site, a number of sherds dating to the Tang Dynasty were
uncovered from a single context at depths between 1.2 and 1.8 metres. This context (Context 06) has been interpreted
as being alluvial or fluvial in origin, the sherds recovered from it, however,
showed no signs of water erosion. It is
therefore, surmised that these finds represented an in situ assemblage. The likelihood of further Tang Dynasty deposits
within the proposed U-channel at Ling Tsui Tau Village within the boundary of
Chung Hau Archaeological Site is high.
8.5.3
An abandoned factory was located to
the south of proposed U-channel within the works boundary and Chung Hau
Archaeological Site. No test pits or auger hole were possible within the
factory due to access constraints. Four auger hole tests conducted to the east
of factory building indicate that the abandoned building lies on a sandbar
deposit. This sandbar deposit has archaeological potential, previous findings
at Chung Hau Archaeological Site include Tang Dynasty kiln debris. Series of
Tang Dynasty kilns are typically set into a sandbar deposit and are noted at
several locations in Hong Kong. Additionally one of the auger hole tests
brought up reddish soils (burnt soils), which are typically recorded in the
vicinity of kilns. Based on findings from the field surveys, potential impacts
would only be limited to the small areas of minor excavation works associated
with the proposed 0.75m U-channel at Ling Tsui Tau Tsuen within the Chung Hau
Archaeological Site.
Built Heritage
Nature of Potential Impacts
8.5.4
Any heritage resource located within
close proximity to the works area may be adversely impacted through vibration and/
or receive direct damage from construction works.
8.5.5
The impacts associated with
operational phase of the project would be of an aesthetic nature. In the sense
that the surrounding environment of the historical villages may be altered
through the construction of project associated features.
Assessment of Impacts
8.5.6
An assessment of the potential impacts
is presented in Table 8.2.
Table
8.2 Assessment of Potential
Impacts to Recorded Resources
|
Resource
|
Minimum Distance
To Works Area
|
Intervening Landscape
|
Impact Assessment
|
|
Yuen Compound (AABH-727
through 738)
|
0 m
|
Village Structures
|
There may be minor vibration
impact on the existing retaining wall and identified buildings of the Yuen Compound
associated with the proposed project during the construction of retaining
wall and rubble seawall.
There would be no adverse visual
or aesthetic impacts associated with the proposed project during the
construction or operation phases, as the project area is screened from the
Yuen Compound by existing tree cover and retaining wall.
No adverse impact to accessibility
of the Yuen Compound will result as part of the Project as the entrance to
the Compound will be retained.
|
|
Shrine (AAHB-739)
|
>10m
|
Village structures
|
There
would be no adverse vibration impact associated with the proposed project
during the construction phase, based on the nature of works and separation
distance.
No adverse impact to
accessibility of the village shrine will result as part of the Project as the
shrine is located at sufficient distance away from the alignment.
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Luk Tei Tong Watchtower (AAHB-740)
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220m
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Village structures
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There
would be no vibration impact associated with the proposed project during the construction
phase, based on the nature of works and large separation.
There
would be no visual or aesthetic impacts associated with the proposed project
during the construction or operation phases, as the tower is located
at large distance from the alignment.
No impact to accessibility of
the Yuen
Compound will result as part of the Projecttower as the towerit is located at
large distance from the alignment
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Archaeology
8.6.1
Further archaeological investigation is
recommended for the two areas within the Chung Hau Archaeological Sites,
including the works area within Area E and the site of the abandoned factory as
well as the works area not covered by the previous archaeological survey.
8.6.2
The construction of the proposed
U-channel at Ling Tsui Tau Village should minimise any excavation works within
the boundary of the Chung Hau Archaeological Site. Subject to the findings of
the further investigation, a watching brief is recommended for any excavation
works undertaken by a qualified archaeologist approved by AMO in order to
record and collect any artefacts and/or archaeological data during excavation.
If significant archaeological deposits are found, a rescue excavation may need
to be undertaken.
Built Heritage
8.6.3
Specific construction method should be
selected to avoid vibration impact on the retaining wall and buildings of the
Yuen Compound during construction of the proposed retaining wall and rubble
seawall. Monitoring of vibration impacts should be conducted during the
construction works to ensure no damage to the existing structures of the
Compound.
References
Y06070 (1963)
4027 (1973)