TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1980
PRESERVING HONG KONG'S HERITAGE
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THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD HAS EXAMINED A LARGE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL MONUMENTS, BUT HAS SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THE DECLARATION OF COMPARATIVELY FEW OF THEM, IT WAS DISCLOSED IN THE BOARD'S REPORT FOR 1979 WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED. DECISIONS ARE STILL AWAITED IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES.
THE REPORT SAID THAT THE BOARD LAID CONSIDERABLE EMPHASIS LAST YEAR ON ITS EFFORTS TO SECURE THE PRESERVATION OF 11 OLD NEW TERRITORIES BUILDINGS.
+UNFORTUNATELY, THESE BUILDINGS ARE ALL PRIVATELY OWNED AND THEIR OWNERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY OPPOSE DECLARATION AS MONUMENTS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THIS WILL REDUCE THEIR RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP, SAID THE REPORT.
THE REPORT POINTED OUT THAT THE BOARD WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF PROGRESS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS WERE SUPERB EXAMPLES OF THE ART OF STONEWORK, WOODEN DECORATION AND TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE, IN ADDITION TO THEIR HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AS REGARDS ARCHAEOLOGY IN HONG KONG, THE REPORT SAID THE BOARD HAS BEEN CONSULTED LAST YEAR ON THE INTRODUCTION OF A POLICY AS A GUIDE FOR THE URBAN AND NT AUTHORITIES IN PROTECTING THE TERRITORY'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN EXERCISING CONTROL OVER EXCAVATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND IN THE ISSUE OF LICENCES TO EXCAVATE SUCH SITES.
+THE BOARD WAS ALSO CONSULTED BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT, WITHIN THE URBAN COUNCIL'S MUSEUM OF HISTORY, OF A CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIAL. THIS REPOSITORY IS ORGANISED SO AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE VARIOUS STAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE TERRITORY, WITH ALL THE MATERIAL COLLECTED IN ONE PLACE.+
THE REPORT POINTED OUT THAT THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO USE ELLIPTICAL-SHAPED METAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES TO MARK THE LOCATIONS OF FORMER WELL-KNOWN BUILDINGS OR LANDMARKS.
+THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION HAS KINDLY AGREED TO THE INSTALLATION OF A PLAQUE ON THE OUTSIDE OF ITS HEAD OFFICE TO MARK THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL CITY HALL, SAID THE REPORT.
THE EXCELSIOR