ENG-1998 — Page 441

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Cheung Shang Tsz was most probably constructed in 1789 as a joint effort by six villages in Ta Kwu Ling area, namely Loi Tung, Man Uk Pin and the alliance, Ping Yuen Hap Heung which consisted of Ping Yeung, Nga Yiu Ha, Wo Keng Shan and Ping Che. When the original buildings became decrepit, they were demolished and rebuilt in full in 1868.

Restorations and repairs were undertaken at various historical sites including Lo Wai, Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall, Cheung's Ancestral Hall, Yi Tai Shu Yuen, Kang Yung Shu Uk, Yu Kiu Ancestral Hall, Kung Ting-Study Hall and Ching Shu Hin.

A cartographic survey and measure drawing project on the Cheung's Ancestral Hall in Yuen Long was carried out in 1998 with the assistance of the Guangdong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. The drawings and the findings of the survey were very useful for the restoration of the Cheung's Ancestral Hall.

The Antiquities Advisory Board also examined and graded pre-war Chinese temples and monasteries in Tai Po; the military structures at the Ex-Royal Air Force Station Kai Tak; and the historical building, Woodside, at Mount Parker, according to their historical significance and architectural merit.

The historical building survey continued in 1998. So far, about 3 000 unrecorded items of historic interest have been identified. All the information and data collected will be computerised to facilitate future research.

With the enactment of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance in February 1997 and the enforcement of the Ordinance and the Technical Memorandum on April 1, 1998, the Archaeology Section of the AMO has been heavily engaged in the archaeological heritage impact assessments associated with the EIA studies. Archaeological investigations undertaken by the office included the survey of the Ping Ha Road extension in Yuen Long from January to March, the survey of Island House in Tai Po in March and April, the survey of Sha Chau in April and May, the survey of Areas 13 and 14 in Yuen Long from May to August, the survey of Hung Shui Kiu in Yuen Long from June to September and the survey of Shek Pai Wan on Lamma Island in August. They yielded valuable data on the archaeological potential of the various project areas. Appropriate mitigation measures could be arranged to safe-guard the well-being of these significant sites of cultural heritage.

The AMO conducted rescue excavations at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun, in February and in May and June. Apart from the rich Late Neolithic stone and pottery artefacts, two pieces of bronze scraper were also discovered. This is the first time that Bronze Age cultural remains have been found at Lung Kwu Tan, thus shedding new light on the study of prehistory of Hong Kong.

The second Hong Kong-wide archaeological survey was in full swing during the year with eight local and Mainland archaeological teams commissioned to undertake surveys of assigned areas. Several new sites were discovered in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Sai Kung. The survey aims at compiling and updating a comprehensive, computerised inventory of archaeological sites.

The large-scale rescue excavation at North Tung Wan Tsai, Ma Wan, conducted jointly by the AMO and the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in the second half of 1997 has yielded very rich cultural remains, particularly

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