TREASURES OF THE DEEP Surveying and Documenting the Underwater Heritage of Hong Kong Hong Kong Underwater Heritage Group Hong Kong Underwater Heritage Group C/O Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central Hong Kong http://www.hkuhgroup.com Supported by Centre for International Heritage Activities (CIE) The authors of the book are: with contributions from: K.Y. Chan L.H. Li P.K. Wong P. Harrison B. Jeffery S.M. Chow W.C. Ho S. Heaver S.M. Chan D. Riach ISBN: 978-988-18233-5-9 © The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust 2015 Designed by Graphicat Limited Printed in Hong Kong Published by the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central, Hong Kong Front cover photograph of RMS Queen Elizabeth in Victoria Harbour taken July 1972 by Barry Loigman, M.D. All rights reserved: No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright holder. Contents 01 Introduction 02 Hong Kong Government Involvement in Underwater Cultural Heritage 05 Setting the Scene 15 Caring for Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites 20 Hong Kong’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Database 27 A Mystery Shipwreck 35 A Scatter of Ceramics 41 The Future for Underwater Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong 45 Further Reading Introduction This book is the result of a project ‘Recording and less boat traffic) and in compliance with the and Documenting the Underwater Heritage of conditions of a permit from the Antiquities and Hong Kong’. It was implemented by a small group Monuments Office (AMO) of the Leisure and of Hong Kong residents (the authors) interested Cultural Services Department. in revealing underwater cultural heritage sites and histories. It is the first time Hong Kong’s This book is a group effort, just like the underwater cultural heritage has been written underwater surveying that HKUHG carried out up in a manner that is aimed at informing the in obtaining information for the book’s contents. Hong Kong community. We hope it generates an It is not intended as a scholarly work but as an interest in this exciting and emerging topic. There introduction to the very interesting topic of is much to discover. underwater cultural heritage or what others call maritime/marine archaeology. The book’s Hong Kong is recognised as an area worthy of contents are based on the aims and outcomes developing underwater cultural heritage research of the project that commenced in 2009, which since its history is inextricably linked to its were to: development as one of the busiest ports in the • commence a systematic survey of the world. It is also a very important harbour, being Hong Kong Special Administrative Region the only natural deep water between Shanghai (HKSAR) through compilation of a database of and Singapore. This coast has been subjected to sites and site surveys in order to highlight the active hazards known to play a role in creating value and potential of Hong Kong’s extensive shipping casualties (e.g. pirates and typhoons), and diverse maritime history and its maritime making it likely that there is much to uncover. It and underwater cultural heritage landscape. is also known that Hong Kong contains hundreds of archaeological sites dating back 7,000 years and and many are located along the coast, and remains • as long-term residents of Hong Kong who could be found underwater. treasure its unique culture and identity, we wanted to pass this information on to the This project began in 2009 although it was rest of our community. in 2008 that the group first became involved through taking part in a number of the Nautical The book provides information on Hong Archaeology Society (NAS) training programmes. Kong’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Database They formed the Hong Kong Underwater (HKUCHD); different perspectives of Hong Heritage Group (HKUHG) and successfully Kong’s maritime connections; details about sought funding from the Lord Wilson Heritage two underwater cultural heritage surveys; and Trust to implement this project. The field surveys future plans. We hope you enjoy it and would were restricted to an area east of the Sai Kung welcome your feedback, and involvement: Country Park for practical reasons (clearer water [email protected], http://www.hkuhgroup.com 1 Hong Kong Government’s Involvement in Underwater Cultural Heritage It was the passing of the Environmental Impact They reacted to the new legislation by developing Assessment Ordinance in 1998 that was a crucial a set of ‘Guidelines for Marine Archaeology’. first step in the protection of underwater cultural These set out the standard methodology heritage in Hong Kong. This legislation makes it for completing what is called a Marine mandatory for all designated projects to complete Archaeological Investigation (MAI). an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is held up for government and public It comprises: scrutiny. Development can only proceed if an • Baseline Review: a detailed review of environmental permit is issued. documentary resources and existing information; Until the introduction of this legislation in 1998, all underwater cultural heritage discoveries were • Geophysical Survey: specialised survey accidentally made during construction work. equipment such as side scan sonar, multi beam In most countries the biggest threat to underwater sonar, magnetometer and seismic profiler are cultural heritage is looting. In Hong Kong, deployed to detect seabed objects. They provide it is the large number of infrastructure projects 100% coverage of the seabed and can detect which disturb the seabed and often reclaim objects buried to about 30 metres (m); it completely. • Diver Survey: if the geophysical survey locates any unidentified objects with archaeological The main aim of the Environmental Impact potential an underwater survey is carried out; Assessment Ordinance is to avoid, minimise and control adverse impacts on the environment by • The results of all phases of work are combined designated projects. They include infrastructure into a final report which forms a section of the projects such as reclamation, dredging, sewage EIA for the project. and port facilities. It is a very transparent process: Underwater cultural heritage sites and objects the Environmental Protection Department are also protected under the Antiquities and (EPD) website http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/ Monuments Ordinance 1976, which declares sites holds information about project briefs, stages older than 1800 to be owned by the Hong Kong of development and has copies of all the government and for the discovery of a site or an EIA reports. antiquity to be reported to AMO. The government agency responsible for protecting Hong Kong’s underwater cultural heritage is the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO). 2 Hong Kong Government’s Involvement in Underwater Cultural Heritage Since 1998 approximately 140 MAIs have been It also marks a welcome and long overdue completed. They have generated an immense continuation of the 1998 Lord Wilson Heritage amount of seabed data which did not previously Fund award to establish a framework for marine exist. However, no underwater cultural heritage archaeology in Hong Kong. This work explored sites have been located. This is in part associated available research resources, raised key issues and with the small areas of seabed investigated made recommendations for future work. and the limited ‘development’ led approach as This included an inventory (database) which compared to a ‘research’ focused investigation. HKUHG are now developing. It also suggested The soft sediments of much of the seabed in the training of local expertise which has also been Hong Kong means that many older artefacts achieved through the HKUHG. will most likely be deeply buried and, while the geophysical equipment can discern these objects, The formation of the HKUHG means that it is not always easy to interpret them as cultural for first time, detailed desktop studies can be material. undertaken, leading to research focused field investigations. The database that has been created The 1998 legislation is amongst the most will be an extremely valuable research tool for comprehensive in the world. It ensures that all future projects. By combining local desktop marine archaeological investigations are carried research with diver surveys and the acquisition out to high standards. In combination with the of verbal records from local coastal and fishing Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance 1976 communities, an ever-increasing research that stipulates the need for a Licence to Excavate resource for Hong Kong is being initiated and and Search for Antiquities, Hong Kong has a should be maintained. framework for the protection of its underwater cultural heritage. The combination of the work of the HKUHG and the existing legislative framework places Hong The establishment of the HKUHG in 2008 was Kong in a very strong position with regard to the the next most positive step forward in the future protection and management of underwater development of marine archaeology in cultural heritage. The EIA legislation prevents Hong Kong. further destruction of archaeological remains during development. 3 Victoria. 1847. Coloured Lithograph. G.R. West. Source: The Chater Collection. 4 Setting the Scene View of Hong Kong from Kowloon, 1841-2. Captain Stoddert, R.N. Engraving T. Allom. Source: The Chater Collection. 5 Setting the Scene ong Kong has a rich and diverse history From the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) onwards, Hrelated to the sea which is reflected in Tuen Mun had been an important transportation stories, legends, contemporary cultural practices, and military port at the mouth of the Pearl River as well as sites and objects. The following broad in south China where a garrison of 2,000 troops themes were designed to assist in researching the was established in 736. Foreign merchants (such intangible and tangible aspects of Hong Kong’s as Arabs, Indians and Persians) visited Tuen Mun maritime and underwater cultural heritage.