1 Introduction

1.1 Background

ERM-Hong Kong, Limited (ERM) has been commissioned by the Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO) to undertake an EIA for a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminal in the HKSAR. As part of study, ERM has been instructed to undertake a Graves and Shrines and Tablets Survey to identify any grave or shrine within the Project Area at South Soko Island that may be affected by the development.

The purpose of the survey is to identify all grave and shrine within the project site as shown in Figure 1.1. The findings of this survey will contribute to the cultural heritage impact assessment for the EIA as well as the Land Impact Assessment.

This Report presents the survey findings.

1.2 Structure of the Report

Following this introductory section, the remainder of this report comprises the following sections:

Section 2 presents the methodology for the grave and shrine Survey on South Soko island; and

Section 3 presents the survey findings.

The following annexes have also been included:

Annex 12-B-A Photographic Record of Identified grave and shrine; and

Annex 12-B-B Proforma for the grave and shrine survey.

2 Methodology

A field walking survey was undertaken to visually identify graves and shrines within the Project Area. Reference to AMO’s Criteria for Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment has been made in preparing the recording requirement that includes:

· A plan showing all identified graves and shrines;

· GPS recording of the location of the graves and shrines;

· Size, a sketch of the grave, facing of the graves and headstone details are recorded using the Graves and Shrines Survey Form (see Annex 12-B-A for a sample of the Form); and

· At least two photographs for each grave or shrine (one general view of the grave and one view of the headstone/details, if available).

3 Survey Findings

The fieldworks were undertaken between 29 September and 6 October 2005, and 21 and 27 June 2006 and 11 September 2006. A total of 27 Graves (G001 to G027), a stone table associated with the graveyard history (TA001) and 8 shrines (S001 to S008) were identified. The location of the sites are presented in Figure 3.1. Detail of the graves/shrines/tablet are presented below and their photographic records are presented in Annex 12-B-B.

3.1 Graves

The graves information are presented below and Table 3.1.

· G001 is the grave of a Mr Chan overgrown with vegetation and located on the southern hillslope of the Detention Centre.

· G002 is a Vietnamese grave located at the southern hill slope of the Detention Centre. As the Detention Centre was constructed in the late 1980s and was in use until 1997, it is believed that the grave was constructed between this period.

· Eight graves (G003-G010) were concentrated at an area known as Deitangju (地塘咀), according to the inscription on the headstones. These graves are from two clan groups namely the Ng and Yeung clans. They were most likely the inhabitants of the island prior to the construction of the Detention Centre. Major renovation work was undertaken in 1990 and some of the graves may date back to Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

· To the southwest of the graveyard, (approx 24m) there is a footpath leading to more graves. One of them (G011) may be a grave or an earthshrine. Since no inscription is available, the function of the structure cannot be determined.

· There were three graves (G012-14) which were also probably burials from the Ng and Yeung clans of the island based on the study of the headstone inscription information.

· G015 is the grave of a Mr Ng located northeast of Fei Kei Teng. The grave is in fair condition with some cracks on it.

· G016 is the grave of a Mr Ng located on the slope facing Pak Tso Wan. It is a post-1950 grave generally in good condition.

· G017 is a grave of the Ng clan facing Pak Tso Wan. The grave was probably constructed in the Qing dynasty. However, the headstone inscription was poorly eroded; construction or renovation year or brief history of the site had been eroded. It is in fair to poor condition.

· G018 – is a grave of the Yeung clan located near G0017 also facing Pak Tso Wan. The grave was renovated in 1980. There is a tablet with the same inscription tablet behind the grave. It is in fair condition.

· G019 is the grave of the Chau clan located south of the graveyard at Deitangju where G003-10 are concentrated. It is a grave dated to 1808. Although overgrown of the grave has been removed, many cracks are identified on the grave, its condition is fair.

· G020 is the grave without inscription. Thus, construction year is not known. It is probably an abandoned grave.

· G021 to G024 are Vietnamese graves buried in early 1990s. They are generally in fair condition.

· G025 and G026 are located next to each other. It is not known when they were buried but they were renovated at the same year in 1980. The sites are in fair condition.

· G027 is a burial for an unknown person buried in 1992. The site is generally in fair condition.

Table 3.1 Identified Graves in Tai A Chau

Site Code	Location		Facing	Construction	Renovation	Description
	HK 1980 Grid
	Northing	Easting		Year	Year
G001	802903	808802	NW	Unknown	Unknown	Burial of a Mr Chan
G002	802872	808819	N	Late 1980s to early 1990s	N/A	Burial of a Vietnamese
G003	802632	809016	NE	Unknown	1990	Burial of a Mr Ng clan
G004	802629	809022	NE	Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)	1990	Burial of a couple of the Ng clan along with their daughter in law
G005	802632	809002	NE	1901	1980	Burial of a couple of the Ng clan
G006	802626	809010	NE	1901	N/A	Burial of a couple of the Ng clan
G007	802620	809010	NE	Unknown	1990	Burial of three couples of the Yeung clan
G008	802614	809016	NE	Unknown	1990	Burial of a couple of the Ng clan
G009	802629	809002	NE	Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)	1990	Burial of two couples and a Mr Ng probably of the same clan group
G010	802617	809016	NE	Unknown	1990	Burial of a couple of the Yeung Clan
G011	802638	808967	NE	Unknown	Unknown	May be a Grave or Earthshrine
G012	802641	808959	NE	Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)	Qing Dynasty & 1990	Burial of a Mr Yeung and a Ng clan female elderly
G013	802685	808959	NE	Unknown	1980	Burial of a Mr Ng
G014	802752	808965	NE	Unknown	1918, 1980	Burial of a Mr Ng
G015	N221006	E11354470	NE	Nil	1926	Burial of the 4^th generation of Ng clan
G016	802878	808754	NW	1992	Nil	Burial of a Mr Ng
G017	802737	808600	N	Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)	Nil	Burial of a Mr Ng
G018	802703	808649	N	Unknown	1980	Burial of a Mr Ng
G019	802552	809023	S	1807	Nil	Burial of a Chau clan
G020	803223	809096	SE	Unknown	Unknown	No headstone available
G021	802971	808952	N	1991-1993	N/A	Burial of a Vietnamese person
G022	802657	808961	NE	1993	N/A	Burial of one or two Vietnamese person
G023	802661	808711	SW	1992	N/A	Burial of a Vietnamese person
G024	802656	808635	W	1992-1993	N/A	Burial of a Vietnamese person
G025	802689	808576	N	Unknown	1980	Burial of a Mr Kung
G026	802689	808579	N	Unknown	1980	Burial of a Mr Ng
G027	802629	808311	NE	1992	N/A	Burial of an unknown person

3.2 Tablet

One tablet has been identified within the Study Area and the details are presented in Table 3.2 and Annex 12-B-B.

Table 3.2 Identified Tablets at South Soko

Site Code	Location		Facing	Construction	Renovation	Description
	HK 1980 Grid
	Northing	Easting		Year	Year
TA001	802779	808959	NE	1990	History of the graveyard located at Deitangju

3.3 Earth Shrines

Eight earth shrines were identified within the Study Area and the details are presented in Table 3.2 and Annex 12-B-B.

Table 3.3 Identified Earth Shrines on South Soko

Site Code	Location		Facing	Condition	Description
	HK 1980 Grid
	Northing	Easting
S001	803149	808776	SW	Good	Still visited by local seafarers
S002	803174	808746	SW	Good	Still visited by local seafarers
S003	803214	808692	SW	Fair	No signs of worship, probably abandoned
S004	803398	808669	W	Good	Still visited by local seafarers
S005	802720	808833	W	Abandoned	Constructed in 1990 probably by the Vit
S006	802607	808900	W	Fair	It is a tablet with text “earth God” located by an old tree. Some Kwun Yum ceramic idols are placed around the tablet. It is probably an abandoned earth god worshipping site.
S007	802471	808983	SE	Fair	The site is located at the foothill area without inscription. It is located next to S008.
S008	802465	808985	SE	Fair	The site is located at the foothill area without inscription. It is located next to S007.