XN000022-1994-12-23 — Page 22

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The Secretary of the Port Development Board, Mr Tony Clark, said the archaeological importance of the site had been taken fully into account in planning the port and its back-up areas.

For this reason the Pa Tau Kwu Peninsula had been designated an open area at an early stage in the port planning process.

He said although the area would, eventually, be surrounded by reclamation for the port, the peninsula itself would not be developed.

Archaeologists from the Chinese University believe the 3,500-year-old village, near Penny's Bay, could be the oldest complete village site in the territory.

It was discovered during a university archaeological survey of the North Lantau Expressway in 1991.

Mr Clark discounted reports that archaeologists were working against time to excavate the Neolithic village before the developers moved in.

"There will be no bulldozers there," he said. "What is now a peninsula will be preserved as a pleasant hill adjacent to the port," he said.

End/Friday, December 23, 1994

Marine Police Headquarters a historical building

The Marine Police Headquarters Compound at Tsim Sha Tsui has been gazetted as a historical building under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.

The Marine Police Headquarters compound (MPH) comprises the Main Building, a Stable Block and a Signal Tower (the Round House) which were built in 1884 and have since been occupied by the Marine Police except during the Japanese Occupation (1941-45).

Before the construction of the MPH, the Water Police (as it was then known) was stationed on an old wooden hulk which was completely destroyed by fire in February 1884.