Edited by Elaine Ho

Antiquities and Monuments Office

Leisure and Cultural Services Department
A. Heritage Impact Assessment
B. A&A proposals and demolition plans of historic buildings (to BD)
C. Permit for A&A Works on Declared Monument

Heritage Impact Assessment

I. When Need?
 New capital works projects (including both projects approved individually by Public Works
Subcommittee (PWSC) / Finance Committee (FC))
 Category D items but excluding those as listed below

Category D: Public Works that estimated to cost $30 million or less.

Exemption on Category D items:
(i) Routine maintenance and minor repair works;
(ii) Category D items involving alteration/addition, refurbishment, improvement and fitting-out
works in existing building compounds being not “heritage sites” themselves;
(iii) Category D items involving alteration/addition, refurbishment and improvement works in
Government open spaces, parks etc. being not “heritage sites” themselves and with no “heritage
sites” within;
(iv) Ground investigation works not within “heritage sites”;
(v) Traffic control and surveillance projects not within “heritage sites”;
(vi) Non-works items such as purchase of property and consultancy study; and
(vii) Emergency repair works.

Work agent [discretion is given to works agents to consider whether to submit checklists to AMO for
processing, after ascertaining that there is no “heritage site” within or in the vicinity of the project
boundary, even if the “heritage sites” are located at a distance more than 50m from the project boundary.
If adverse impact is anticipated or suspected, the works agents should still submit the checklist to AMO
for processing.]
(i) installation or relocation of village/street lighting; and
(ii) slope works of all nature

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HAD handling district minor works [discretion is given to HAD to consider whether to submit checklists
to AMO for processing, after ascertaining that there is no “heritage site” within or in the vicinity of the
project boundary]
(i) minor district greening and street beautification works;
(ii) construction of signage, rain shelters, pavilions, arbours, benches, pedestrian covers, railings and
fencing;
(iii) general district improvement works such as construction or improvement of footpaths, van
tracks, drainage system and stream courses; and
(iv) improvement works along walking trails.

II. Procedure
General Procedure (Detail Procedure see Technical Circular (Works) No. 6/2009)
http://www.heritage.gov.hk/images/impact/TC_Heritage.pdf
1. Work agents confirm with the Antiquities & Monuments Office (AMO) of the Leisure & Cultural
Services Department whether there is/are any declared monuments, proposed monuments, sites and
buildings graded by the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB), sites of archaeological interest or
Government historic sites identified by AMO within or in the vicinity of the project boundary. The
responsibility to identify the presence of “heritage sites” should rest with the works agents.
2. Based on the submitted information, AMO will decide whether the works agent should conduct a
Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the project.
3. If necessary to conduct HIA, the works agent is required to submit a proposed Study Brief and agree
with AMO on the scope of the HIA. Afterwards, the works agent should conduct an HIA for its
project.

HIA Report Outline

http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/hia_02.php
 Site and Its Surrounding
 Historic Development
 Current Physical Conditions
 Criteria of Assessment
o Aesthetic Significance
o Historic Significance
o Social Significance
o Spiritual Significance
o Statement of Significance
 Potential impact and mitigation measures
 Enhancement Proposals

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 Implementation of the Mitigation Measures

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A&A proposals and demolition plans of historic buildings - Procedure

1. Submit plans to BD. The Heritage Units (HU) in the New Buildings Divisions of the BD process
these A&A proposals. If there is modification, complete ‘List of Justifications and Information for
Application for Modifications of / Exemptions from Relevant Statutory Requirements’ [Appendix A
of APP-69]. The following information should be included once applying for modification.
a) Statement to describe the heritage values of the subject building element(s) proposed for
modification;
b) Threats to the heritage values if modification is not granted, with substantiation by an appraisal
of design options;
c) Recommendations on the design options;
d) Mitigation measures for minimising the adverse impact on the heritage values if modification is
not granted;
e) Proper photographic records and plans of the subject building element(s)

2. The plans will be referred to the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office (CHO) of the Development
Bureau and the AMO under the centralised processing system. HU will provide technical support to
the CHO’s Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme.

3. The CHO and AMO may approach the Authorized Persons (AP) or the owners to explore viable
options for conservation.

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Permit for A&A Works on Declared Monument

Once a building has been declared as a monument or a proposed monument, the building is legally
protected and no person shall undertake building or other works on it without a permit granted by the
Authority under section 6 of the A&MO.

S.6 of CAP53 Antiques and Monuments Ordinance

Subject to subsection (4), no person shall—
(a) excavate, carry on building or other works, plant or fell trees or deposit earth or refuse on or in a proposed
monument or monument; or
(b) demolish, remove, obstruct, deface or interfere with a proposed monument or monument,
except in accordance with a permit granted by the Authority.
(Amended 38 of 1982 s. 7)