XN000022-1978-10-18 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1978

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POLICY ON PRESERVATION OF

ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES EXPLAINED

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THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE PRESERVATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IS TO ENSURE THAT ITEMS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST ARE PRESERVED FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT, MR. LI SAID SUITABLE CLAUSES ARE INCLUDED IN ALL CROWN LEASES AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ON CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS REQUIRING THE LESSEE OR THE CONTRACTOR TO REPORT ANY ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDS AND TO AVOID ANY ACTION WHICH MAY DAMAGE SUCH FINDS.

+FURTHERMORE, + MR. LI SAID, THROUGH THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD, A SYSTEM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR DECLARING SUITABLE PLACES AS SPÉCIAL SITES OF ARCHEOLOGICAL INTEREST AND FOR MARKING THEM ON OFFICIAL LAND USE PLANS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS DONE WHICH MIGHT INJURE THE SITES.+

MR. LI ADDED, ALL ARCHEOLOGICAL RELICS FOUND IN HONG KONG BELONG TO THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE PRESERVED FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY BY THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY.

HE SAID THAT GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON EXCAVATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IS THAT NONE CAN TAKE PLACE WITHOUT A LICENCE.

+HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT IS ALSO ANXIOUS THAT EXCAVATIONS SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE ON A PIECEMEAL BASIS BUT SHOULD BE PRECEDED BY A PROPER SURVEY OF THE WHOLE TERRITORY, TO ASCERTAIN LIKELY SITES AND TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND DEPTH OF PROPOSED EXCAVATIONS, + MR. LI SAID.

+SUBJECT TO FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND OTHER SOCIETIES, THE ADVICE OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AND THE APPROVAL OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS IN THE CONTEXT OF NEXT YEAR'S ESTIMATES, IT IS INTENDED THAT SUCH A SYSTEMATIC SURVEY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED NEXT YEAR, HE ADDED.

MR. LI SAID EXPERT STAFF CARRYING OUT WORK IN THIS FIELD, ARE EMPLOYED BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THEY FREQUENTLY DRAW ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD.

MR. LI STRESSED THAT GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON PRESERVATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDS IS A SUFFICIENT ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL NOT DESTROY RELICS WHICH MAY PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE CULTURE AND HISTORY.

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