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Update on Central Police Station Revitalisation Project

10/21/2011

Archaeological Investigation Report of Central Police Station Site Released

The archaeological investigation report of the Central Police Station (CPS) site was released today.

Commissioned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), the report was compiled by ERM Hong Kong Ltd. based on field data obtained from site investigations conducted between January and August 2011.  The objective of the report was to determine if there were any remains of archaeological significance and to prepare a set of appropriate mitigation measures to be adopted before and during construction of the project.  The report has been approved by the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of the HKSAR Government.

The mitigation measures outlined in the report include:

  • The underground plant room (supplying all the conserved historic buildings) at the lower courtyard will be redesigned and reduced in size, and its location will be adjusted to reduce the impact on the foundation remains of Gaol C (one of the earliest buildings on the site), the buried remains of a tunnel and a passageway with steps.
  • The basement of the Old Bailey Wing at the upper courtyard will be reduced so that part of the foundation remains of a previously demolished prison structure will be preserved in situ.
  • Drawings and photographic records of the remains will be prepared and carefully documented before commencement of ground excavation works.  An archaeological watching brief will be conducted during the ground excavation works.
  • Prior to ground excavation works, training will be provided to all site staff including administrative staff, foremen and workers to promote their awareness of the underground remains on the site and brief them the handling procedures to be taken if any further underground remains are revealed.

“In order to minimize the impact on the buried remains, the underground plant room will adopt an irregular layout.  Such a layout will not only complicate the future operation and maintenance of the plant room, but also require deeper and irregular excavation, increasing the construction difficulty and cost.  The spaces for art gallery storage at the Old Bailey Wing will also be reduced,” a HKJC spokesperson said.

The archaeological investigation report, together with the findings of the earlier studies, provides important data that trace the development of buildings on the CPS site since the mid-19th Century.  HKJC has recently commissioned Purcell Miller Tritton, an architectural firm that specializes in conservation of historic buildings, to compile an architectural history of this important heritage site for future publication.

The archaeological investigation report, compiled in English with a summary in Chinese, is available for viewing and downloading on the CPS project website: http://www.centralpolicestation.org.hk/pdf/AI_Report.pdf

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