Antiquities and Monuments Office

Through the Antiquities and Monuments Office, the Department plays an important role in the preservation and promotion of Hong Kong's heritage. A highlight of the year was the designation of the Leung Ancestral Hall in Yuen Kong Tsuen, Pat Heung, Yuen Long, as a declared monument, bringing the total number of declared monuments in Hong Kong to 81. The Office also carried out restoration and repair work of historic buildings, including Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall and Tin Hau Temple in Lung Yeuk Tau, Fanling, Leung Ancestral Hall in Pat Heung, and Tang Ancestral Hall in Ping Shan.

Notably, the restoration of Liu Ying Lung Study Hall has been awarded an Honourable Mention by the 2006 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. The award presentation ceremony was held on December 5, 2006, at the Study Hall.

Lion dance performance at the Awards Presentation Ceremony of the 2006 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

Liu Ying Lung Study Hall after renovation.

The Office conducts rescue excavations at archaeological sites that are threatened by development, and monitors other sites. The Office also contributed to environmental impact assessment studies for development projects, and monitored field investigations and the implementation of mitigation measures for cultural heritage impact assessment.

To save archaeological heritage items from destruction by development projects, a rescue excavation was conducted at Pak Shek Kok in November 2006 and archaeological investigations were arranged at various small house sites.

The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, located at Kowloon Park, partially opened in October 2005. An exhibition Archaeological Discoveries in Sha Ha, Sai Kung was presented at the Thematic Exhibition Gallery of the Centre from October 2005 to April 2006. In addition, the winning entries of the Hong Kong Heritage Awards 2004 were displayed at the Centre from November 2005 to March 2006. From June to December 2006, the Cartographic Survey of Historic Buildings exhibition showed the measured drawings and models of selected historic buildings in Hong Kong. The Office also organised a number of special exhibitions on local heritage at the Centre in collaboration with non-governmental organisations. An exhibition entitled Transforming Our Community was jointly organised by the Office and CARE at the Centre from May to July 2006. Another exhibition, Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition Hong Kong Response, was jointly organised with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects at the Centre from December 8, 2006, to February 21, 2007. A standing exhibition on Hong Kong's cultural heritage is being prepared and will open in early 2008. In addition, the Office organised various educational and extension activities to promote public awareness of heritage preservation.

In October 2005, the Office launched the Geographical Information System on Heritage, which maintains the records of 81 declared monuments for public viewing. An additional 135 records of graded government-owned historic buildings and 138 archaeological sites have been released on the Internet for public access since June 2006.