TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
11. Cultural
Heritage Impact. 11-2
11.1 Introduction. 11-2
11.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Criteria. 11-2
11.3 Assessment
Methodology. 11-3
11.4 Background
of Study Area. 11-5
11.5 Impact
Assessments and Mitigation of Adverse
Impacts. 11-7
11.6 Environmental
Monitoring and Audit 11-7
11.7 Conclusion. 11-7
LIST OF FIGURES
60334056/EIA/11.01 Cultural Heritage Study Area and Resources Within
11.1.1
This section presents a cultural heritage
impact assessment (CHIA) of the Project, identifying the cultural heritage resources and built heritage structures
within the study area, and assessing potential direct and indirect impacts
resulting from the construction and operation of the Project on these heritage
resources. Appropriate mitigation measures are proposed to alleviate the adverse
impacts if necessary.
11.2.1.1
Legislation and standards that are relevant to the cultural
heritage impact assessment under this EIA include the following:
·
EIAO (Cap.499) and EIAO-TM
·
Guidance Note on Assessment of
Impact on Sites of Cultural Heritage in Environmental Impact Assessment Studies
·
Antiquities and Monuments
Ordinance (A&MO) (Cap.53)
·
Hong Kong Planning Standards
and Guidelines (HKPSG)
·
Guidelines for Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (GCHIA)
11.2.2.1
The EIAO
stipulates that consideration must be given to issues associated with built
heritage and archaeology as part of the EIA process. Schedule 1 of the EIAO defines “Site of
Cultural Heritage” as “an antiquity or monument, whether being a place,
building, site or structure or a relic, as defined in
the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53) and any place, building,
site, or structure or a relic identified by the Antiquities and Monuments
Office (AMO) to be of archaeological, historical or palaeontological
significance”.
11.2.2.2
The EIAO-TM identifies a
general presumption in the favour of the protection and conservation of all sites of cultural heritage and requires
impacts upon sites of cultural heritage to be 'kept to the absolute minimum'. Annex 10 and 19 of the EIAO-TM outline
criteria for evaluating the impacts on sites of cultural heritage and guidelines
for impact assessment, respectively.
11.2.3
Guidance Note
on Assessment of Impact on Sites of Cultural Heritage in Environmental Impact
Assessment Studies
11.2.3.1
The
Guidance Note assists the understanding of the requirements of the EIAO-TM in
assessing impact on sites of cultural heritage in EIA studies.
11.2.4.1
The
Ordinance provides the statutory framework for the protection of Declared
Monuments and preservation of objects of historical, archaeological and palaeontological
interest. The Ordinance contains
the statutory procedures for the Declaration of Monuments. Under the Ordinance, a “monument” means a
place, building, site or structure which is declared to be a monument,
historical building or archaeological or palaeontological site or structure under
Section 3 of the Ordinance.
11.2.5.1
Chapter 10
of HKPSG covers planning considerations relevant to conservation. It also details the principles of
conservation, the conservation of natural landscape and habitats, declared
monuments, historic buildings, sites of archaeological
interest and other heritage items,
and addresses the issue of enforcement. The appendices list the legislation and
administrative controls for conservation, other conservation related measures
in Hong Kong, and Government departments involved in conservation.
11.2.6.1
The
Guidelines outline the technical requirements for conducting cultural heritage impact
assessment. The guidelines put
preservation in totality as the first priority. Mitigation measure should be proposed in
cases with identified impacts and if preservation in totality is not feasible
due to site constraints or other factors, full justification must be provided.
11.3.1.1
The CHIA
is carried out in accordance with GCHIA, the requirements as stated in Annex 10
and 19 of the EIAO-TM and the EIA Study Brief.
This CHIA was conducted and reviewed by a qualified person. The assessment methodology for
archaeological and built heritage impact assessments is
described in the following sections.
Study
Area
11.3.2.1
In accordance with Appendix K of
the EIA Study Brief with Requirements for CHIA, the study area
of Archaeological Impact Assessment are the areas within a distance of 50m from
the site boundary of the Project.
The location of study area is indicated in Figure No. 60334056/EIA/11.01.
Desktop
Review and Field Scanning
11.3.2.2
A desktop
literature review was conducted to identify and assess the potential existence of archaeological resources within the study area. Field scanning was undertaken to verify
the information collected and analyzed, to determine the presence of
archaeological materials in the study area. Information
collected for desktop study includes the following sources:
·
AMO’s List
of Sites of Archaeological Interest;
·
Previous EIA study reports,
archaeological reports and related studies within the study area including the
Preliminary Environmental Review under Agreement No. CE 43/2011 (DS) Relocation
of STSTW to Caverns – Feasibility Study;
·
Relevant archaeological and
geographical monographs; and
·
Geological and historical maps, aerial photos and relevant
visual archives.
Study
Area
11.3.3.1
In accordance with Appendix K of
the EIA Study Brief with the requirements for CHIA and GCHIA (No.
ESB-273/2014), the study area of the Built Heritage Impact Assessment are the
areas within a distance of 50m from the site boundary of the Project. The location of the study area is
indicated in Figure No. 60334056/EIA/11.01.
11.3.3.2
Features which
fall within the scope of the baseline study of built heritage include:
·
All recorded sites of
archaeological interest (both terrestrial and marine);
·
All declared monuments;
·
All proposed monuments;
·
All
buildings/ structures/ sites graded or proposed to be graded by the Antiquities
Advisory Board (AAB);
·
Government historic sites
identified by AMO;
·
Buildings/ structures/ sites of
high architectural/ historical significance and interest which are not included
above; and
·
Cultural landscapes include
places associated with an historic event, activity, or person or exhibiting
other cultural or aesthetic
values, such as sacred religious sites, battlefields, a setting for buildings
or structures of architectural or archaeological importance, historic field
patterns, clan graves, old tracks, fung shui woodlands and ponds, and etc.
11.3.3.3
In this
assessment, the built features include village house, ancestral hall, study
hall, temple, church, shrine, monastery, village gate, well, school, historic
wall, bridge stone tablet, government functional structure, shop house and
military structure. Their cultural significance was briefly assessed so as to set up a baseline condition for the identification
of the potential impacts arising from the proposed construction works as well
as recommendations for the corresponding mitigation measures. With reference to the Charter for the
Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (1999) (The Burra Charter)
issued by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),
cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or
spiritual value.
11.3.3.4
Cultural and historical
landscapes assessed in this CHIA include places associated with a historic event, activity, or person or
exhibiting other cultural or aesthetic values, including:
·
Sacred religious sites;
·
Battlefields;
·
A setting for buildings or
structures of architectural or archaeological importance;
·
Historic field patterns;
·
Clan or historic graves, which
are associated with historical figures of a community;
·
Old tracks or footpaths;
·
Results of the assessment of
1,444 historic buildings with their existing and respective proposed grading, recently
published by AMO; and
·
Historical structure and buildings.
Desktop
Review and Field Survey
11.3.3.5
A desktop literature review was
conducted. The following information was analyzed, collected and collated to
determine the presence of historical occupation in the study area and thus
assess the potential existence of cultural heritage within the potential
impacted area:
·
Background
information of heritage sites (including declared
monuments, government historic sites, sites of archaeological interest and
graded historic buildings identified by AMO) within and in close proximity to
the study area (e.g. AMO files, Public Records Office, map libraries,
university and public libraries, published and unpublished government and
non-government documents, cartographic and pictorial documents);
·
Areas proposed for construction
and operation activities and potential impacts induced by the Project;
·
Identification of previous
recorded built heritage resources within the study area which would be
supplemented by a field survey; and
·
Results of the assessment of 1,444 historic building with
their existing and respective proposed grading recently published by AMO.
11.3.3.6
Field
survey was performed including the following tasks:
·
Recording of identified built
heritage features;
·
Interviews with local
informants, residents and elders, if necessary. The interviews aimed to gather
information, such as cultural and historical background of the buildings and
structures, as well as historical events associated with the built heritage
features; and
·
Systematic documentation of recorded features
including:
o
A set of 1:1000 scale maps
showing the location and boundary of the cultural heritage resources; and
o
Written descriptions of
recorded features of historic buildings, e.g. age of the building or structure,
details of architectural features, condition of the building or structure, past
and present uses, architectural appraisal, notes on any modifications,
direction faced and associations with historical or cultural events or
individuals.
11.4.1.1
The
Project area is located at the northern Nui Po Shan; to the east is Luk Chau
Shan, and the Shing Mun River Channel to its northwest. Both Nui Po Shan and Luk Chau Shan have
granite bedrocks, with river valley of Tai Shui Hang contained niches of
alluvial deposit.
11.4.2.1
The
historical village of Tai Shui Hang was thought to have established at least
since the early Qing period during the Kangxi reign (1654 –
1722), which was recorded as “淡水坑” (meaning “fresh water pit”) at the time
(later version of Xinan Gazetteer recorded the village named “担水坑”,
meaning “carrying water pit”). In the same records, Mui Tsz Lam was
recorded in two separate entries as “上梅林” and “下梅林”
(Upper Mui Tsz Lam and Lower Mui Tsz Lam) throughout the two Gazetteers of 1688
and 1819. As there is a recorded site of archaeological interest at the Pak
Kong-Mui Tsz Lam Trackway in this area, there are potentials that other parts
of ancient trackway may have once existed which connect Tai Shui Hang. However, the modern development since
the 1960s at Sha Tin has greatly modified the region. Roads are of modern installation, with
many modern small houses replacing the traditional vernacular Chinese buildings
in the village. The two Cheung
Village Houses found are of rare existence in such modern setting of this
area. It is therefore believed that
any signs of ancient trackway (if they ever existed in this area) have been
removed by modern development. The Pak Kong-Mui Tsz Lam Trackway is located
outside the cultural heritage study area.
11.4.3.1
An ancient
trail between Mui Tsz Lam and Pak Kong in Sai Kung has been recorded as a site
of archaeological interest by AMO.
There may be once existed a footpath network that connects several historical villages at Nui Po Shan and Luk Chau
Shan with Sai Kung.
11.4.3.2
However, according to the
results of field scanning on the study area, the landscape in the study area
contains no sheltered flatland, which implies that this area is not favourable
for settlements. The area contains
no archaeological potential. Urban
developments since the 1980s within the study area has largely modified the
original landscape with cut and fill of slopes and rivers for new road networks
and modern fill lands for high-rise buildings. The survival of terrestrial
archaeological resources within the study area is unlikely. The road
connecting Tai Shui Hang and Mui Tsz Lam has been transformed into a modern car
road. No sign of footpath in
ancient form has been identified within the study area.
11.4.4.1
Review of historical charts and
maps did not show marine archaeological evidence for the study area. Referring to the Marine Archaeological
Investigation Report under Agreement No. CE 43/2011 (DS) Relocation of Sha Tin
Sewage Treatment Works to Caverns – Feasibility Study, the baseline review and geophysical survey did not locate and
indicate the existence of an intact shipwreck and any submerged cultural
heritage sites. Therefore, it is
unlikely to have marine archaeological resources within the study area.
11.4.5.1
According
to the findings
of the desktop review, in particular to the most updated Results of
the Assessment of 1,444 Historic Buildings and Declared Monuments in Hong
Kong, no declared monument is identified and two Grade 3 historic building
are identified at Tai Shui Hang, which are located outside the 50m boundary of the STSTW relocation site at Nui Po Shan (see Figure No. 60334056/EIA/11.01).
11.4.5.2
Cheung
Village House, No. 6 Tai Shui Hang (see CHR1 in Figure No. 60334056/EIA/11.01) was constructed in 1939 by Cheung Man-cheung.
Western architectural designs are reflected on the Chinese vernacular building. It
used to be the largest and most decorative house in the village and was used as
wedding banquet venue.
11.4.5.3
Cheung Village Houses, Nos. 16-18 Tai Shui Hang (see CHR2 in Figure No. 60334056/EIA/11.01) which was constructed in the 1910s to the 1920s was funded by Cheung
Ting-sung. The architecture of the
houses incorporated the mainland craftsmanship and shared the fung shui of
Cheung Ancestral Hall.
11.5
Impact
Assessments and Mitigation of Adverse Impacts
11.5.1.1
No
cultural heritage resource has been identified within the study area, i.e. the
area within a distance of 50m from the project boundary. All cultural heritage resources
identified above are located at distances of over 300m outside the project
boundary.
11.5.2.1
No
terrestrial or marine archaeological resources are identified within the
cultural heritage study area. The landscape
in the study area contains no sheltered flatland favourable for settlements,
and the area has been transformed by modern development. Therefore the study area has no archaeological
potential.
11.5.2.2
In the field survey, no declared
monuments, graded historic buildings, proposed graded historic buildings or
other built heritages resources (i.e. clan or historic graves) are located
within the 50m study area from the site boundary of Project, and therefore not
expected to be affected by the works. Thus, no potential direct or indirect
impact to these cultural heritage resources is anticipated. Hence no environmental mitigation
measures are required.
11.5.3.1
No direct
and indirect impact is anticipated to the cultural
heritage resources
in the study area, and therefore no
environmental protection measures are required.
11.6.1.1
Since no
direct and indirect impact is anticipated during construction phase of the Project, no environmental monitoring is required.
11.6.2.1
Since no
direct and indirect impact is anticipated during operation phase of the Project, no environmental monitoring is required.
11.7.1.1
The CHIA
has assessed current condition and potential impact on cultural heritage
resources within the study area. As no terrestrial and marine archaeological
potential is identified, it is considered that there is no impact on
archaeology and mitigation measures are not required.
11.7.1.2
Two built heritage resources in
Tai Shui Hang (both are Grade 3
historic buildings) as well as the Pak Kong-Mui Tsz Lam Trackway (Site of
Archaeological Interest) are identified outside the 50m study area from the site
boundary of Project. Thus, no potential
direct or indirect impact to these cultural heritage resources is anticipated, and
therefore no mitigation measures are required.
<End of Section 11>