Background

Chief Executive announced in his 2007-08 Policy Address a package of initiatives for heritage conservation including the requirement to undergo heritage impact assessment for all new capital works projects involving historic and built heritage.


Objective

The mechanism of heritage impact assessment will ensure a balance be struck between the requirements for development initiated by Government and heritage conservation, starting from the project inception stage. It will also have the following advantages -

  1. demonstrates Government's commitment to enhance heritage conservation; and
  2. engages public at an early stage.

Mechanism

For all new capital works projects, the project proponents and relevant works departments will be required to consider whether their projects will affect sites or buildings of historic or archaeological significance (collectively known as "heritage sites"). If the answer is in the affirmative, then a Heritage Impact Assessment will be required. Mitigation measures should be devised and the public should be engaged.


Implementation

To take forward the above initiative, a Technical Circular (Works) No. 1/2022 "Heritage Impact Assessment Mechanism for Capital Works Projects" providing the details of assessing impact on heritage arising from the implementation of capital works projects has been issued. Links to the above Technical Circular is provided below:

Technical Circular (Works) No. 1/2022 "Heritage Impact Assessment Mechanism for Capital works Projects"

Also, information on the "heritage sites" and Heritage Impact Assessment reports can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/hia/index.html