TNAG-1075-FCO40-1325-Legislation-for-the-preservation-of-ancient-buildings-and-mo-1981 — Page 21

For discussion

on 18th August 1981

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XCR (81) 208 Copy No

32

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Chapter 53)

DECLARATION OF SHEUNG YIU VILLAGE

AS A MONUMENT

PA Pajus

Introduction

Under section 3(1) of the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, the Authority (viz Secretary for the New Territories in the New Territories) may after consultation with the Antiquities Advisory Board and with the approval of the Governor, declare any place, building, site or structure which the Authority considers to be of public interest by reason of its historical, archaeological or palaeontological significance, to be a monument.

2

The Antiquities Advisory Board has advised, and the Secretary for the New Territories has proposed, that the Sheung Yiu Village (in Sai Kung district of the New Territories) as indicated on the annexed plan should be declared a monument by reason of its historical significance.

Sheung Yiu Village

3

Sheung Yiu Village is situated on the eastern shore of Pak Tam Chung estuary near the western boundary of the Sai Kung East Country Park. It has been completely deserted for almost 20 years. It was originally settled about 150 years ago by Hakkas by the name of Wong (), who started a kiln industry producing bricks, tiles and lime. After an initial period of prosperity, the village began to declare with the introduction of cement and competition from other brick-producing industries. The village was abandoned some twenty years ago. On 24th November 1980, the owners of the private land on which the village stands surrendered all the lots to the Government in exchange for land elsewhere. The land and the buildings in the village now belong to the Government.

4

The village is built on a raised platform, about 5 metres above the level of the access footpath, and is well protected with a high retaining wall in front. The main orientation of the village, east-west (and not the usual north-south), was clearly intended to have the hills at the back and the sea in front, as required by good "fung shui" observance. Within the village itself, there are 8 residential units in one row, most of them connected internally by doors in the dividing walls. The buildings are neatly constructed with the outer walls made of Chinese green bricks, while the inner walls are built of rubble. The entrance doors are framed by granite slabs. All the houses have mezzanine floors.

G.S. 84

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