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SECTION
6 HERITAGE FUNCTIONS CAPITAL STOCK
| 6.4 |
Sustainability Appraisal |
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| 6.4.1.1 |
The value of the heritage resources capital stock is less tangible than that of the natural, ecological and assimilative capacity capital stock in terms of providing valuable resources and environmental functions. It is more difficult to argue, for example, that the loss or erosion of the resource directly threatens life or ecosystem support functions or the stock of usable natural materials. |
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| 6.4.1.2 |
However, heritage resources have integral value in terms of cultural capital stock by providing a means of interpreting social, cultural and economic changes and human understanding in the past. The scientific and anthropological interpretation of such resources can yield important information about historical events and lifestyles and palaeontological evidence from such sites also provides important information on changes in the natural environment which can be relevant to our current understanding of natural systems and the functioning of the capital stock. For example, evidence relating to droughts, flooding and other catastrophic events during human life on earth can be yielded. |
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| 6.4.1.3 |
Importantly, heritage resources are closely linked to other elements of capital stock, for example by contributing to landscape, landform and aesthetic values in urban and rural locations, by providing important educational and recreational functions, and indirectly helping to preserve important habitats (for example fung shui woods (see Paragraph 4.2.1.10 - Terrestrial Habitats and Species) whose cultural and traditional significance may have contributed to their preservation). Heritage resources also have significant economic potential, for example as visitor attractions. |
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| 6.4.1.4 |
Since the extent of the heritage resource in Hong Kong is presently undefined, it is not possible to quantify the significance of the current environmental baseline. The definition of the quality of the stock is complicated by the fact that whilst the absolute number of designated sites may increase (for example as new artefacts are uncovered or previously ungraded buildings become candidates for protection/designation), the overall value of the resource does not necessarily follow suit. This could be the case for example if a number of 'new' sites are designated but one or two particularly important sites are unavoidably sterilised by development. |
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