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BEAM PLUS FOR NEW B UILDINGS S ITE ASPECTS (S A)
V ERSION 1.2 SA 6 CULTURAL HERITAGE
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 42
2 SITE ASPECTS 2.2 SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN
SA 6 CULTURAL HERITAGE
EXCLUSIONS Sites or buildings without cultural heritage.
OBJECTIVE Conserve and protect archaeological remains, historic buildings and
monuments so as to maintain the local and regional cultural heritage.
CREDITS ATTAINABLE 1
PREREQUISITES Compliance with the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, and where
applicable to the development, the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance.
CREDIT REQUIREMENT 1 credit where development does not have a negative impact on sites of
cultural heritage.
ASSESSMENT The Client shall conduct a site survey and desktop study to identify if
there are any sites of cultural heritage on or near the development site.
Information of the identified sites of cultural heritage may be assembled
from the Antiquities and Monuments Office [ 1 ], public libraries and
archives and tertiary institutions. The guidelines and criteria for the
assessment of sites of cultural interest shall follow Annex 10 and Annex
19 of Technical Memorandum to the Environmental Impact Assessment
Process [ 2 ]. The guidelines on conservation of historical buildings
contained in the Chapter 10 of Hong Kong Planning and Standards
Guidelines [3] shall be followed. Clients are encouraged to preserve sites
or buildings of cultural heritage or enhance the setting of such
neighbouring sites or buildings.
Credit shall be awarded where evidence in the form of a report by a
suitably qualified person is provided detailing the findings and confirming
that site preparation (including the process of reclamation), construction
and building commissioning has had no adverse impacts on these sites.
BACKGROUND Hong Kong has a long history which probably dates back to 6,000 years
ago, and possesses rich cultural heritage resources. SUSDEV 21 Study
has defined heritage resources as those sites which contain
archaeological, historical and religious value. Cultural heritage provides a
means of knowing and interpreting social, cultural and economic
changes and enhancing our understanding of the past. It also provides a
focus for community identity, from which a sense of belonging to Hong
Kong can be fostered among the community [4].
Preservation of cultural heritage resources is important. Besides the
declared monuments that are protected under the Antiquities and
Monuments Ordinance and the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance there are over 450 historic buildings have been accorded a
grading, but which have no statutory protection. There remain thousands
of historic buildings which are yet to be fully assessed and categorised,
and are outside the protected areas. As such, special attention and
measures must be given taken to ensure that any cultural heritage
features on site and in the vicinity are properly retained and protected to
1 Antiquities and Monuments Office.
2 Environmental Protection Department. Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process.
3 Hong Kong Planning and Standards Guidelines.
4 HK2030 Study. Working Paper No. 9. Built Heritage Preservation.