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Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 14):
Question:
It is learnt that currently some derelict mines/mine caves in Hong Kong (e.g. the Silver Mine Cave in Mui Wo and the Ma On Shan Iron Mine) have attracted quite a number of visitors to explore them. Quite a number of people have proposed that the authorities should make reference to the practices in foreign countries and revitalise derelict mines/mine caves to become characteristic tourist attractions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information concerning each of the existing derelict mines/mine caves in Hong Kong: the name and location, site area, type(s) of minerals extracted, organisation(s) previously engaged in the mining operations, as well as when the operations started and ended; if such information is not available, of the reasons for that;
(2) whether it knows which organisations/persons in Hong Kong have conducted feasibility studies on the revitalisation of derelict mines/mine caves, and in respect of each of the mines/mine caves concerned, set out its name and location, the year in which the relevant study commenced and the completion date of the study, the organisation/person that conducted the study, and whether the authorities took any follow-up action on the outcome of the study and the details;
(3) whether the Antiquities Advisory Board has conducted any historic building assessment on the derelict mines/mine caves on its own initiative or upon request; if so, of the names of the mines/mine caves concerned, the years in which the relevant assessments were conducted and the outcome; if the Board has not conducted any assessment on derelict mines/mine caves on its own initiative, the reasons for that; whether the Board has plans to conduct historic building assessments on all derelict mines/mine caves; if so, of its work schedule; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) whether the authorities have received any proposal on revitalisation of derelict mines/mine caves to become tourist attractions; if so, of the organisations/persons putting forward such proposals, the years in which the proposals were made, and the reasons for the authorities' acceptance/rejection of the relevant proposals; and
(5) whether the authorities will conduct a feasibility study on the revitalisation of derelict mines/mine caves to become tourist attractions so as to make Hong Kong's tourist attractions more diversified, thereby attracting different types of tourists to visit Hong Kong; if so, of the government departments and relevant organisations responsible for the task; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Some mining activities were carried out in Hong Kong in the past century. The better known mines included Ma On Shan Iron Mines and Silver Mine Cave in Mui Wo. But the mining industry gradually declined after the 1970s, leaving behind derelict mines and mine caves and visitors are attracted to some of them. In the course of planning the development of the districts where these derelict mines/mine caves are located, the Planning Department (PlanD) will examine the feasibility of revitalising them.
My reply to the five parts of Hon Tang's question is as follows:
(1) According to records, mining activities were carried out and left behind derelict mines/mine caves in Hong Kong as shown in Annex.
(2) In the consultation exercise for the Land Use Concept Plans for Mui Wo Facelift conducted by the PlanD in 2007, the Mui Wo residents considered that it would be worthwhile to examine the feasibility of re-opening the Silver Mine Cave in Mui Wo. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) commissioned a consultancy study in 2010 to investigate the internal conditions of the mine caves as well as the technical issues involved and improvement measures needed if the mine caves were to open for public visits. The study completed in March 2012 and concluded that it was not desirable to open the upper cave for public visits in view of its geological conditions, natural habitats and environment, and the problems related to fire safety and confined space. As for the lower cave, it has become an important bat habitat. Visitors entering the cave would not only interfere with the lives of bats, the viruses and bacteria carried by the bats may also endanger human health. As such, the study concluded that it was also not desirable to open the lower cave for public visits. However, the CEDD planned to carry out beautification works and upgrade the amenities outside the upper cave, including reconstructing the sitting-out area, pavilion, seating and information panel of the Silver Mine Cave, with a view to converting the mine cave into a scenic spot.
Besides, the PlanD received written submissions from the Heung Yee Kuk New Territories and Lin Ma Hang Village Office proposing to develop the derelict Lin Ma Hang Lead Mines into a tourist attraction during its study on the Land Use Planning for the Closed Area in 2007. After studying the proposal, the related departments noted that there were problems with the mine structure and a number of locations in the cave with potential hazards. Substantial geotechnical investigation and stabilisation works would be required to make it safe if the mine cave was to open to the public as a tourist attraction. However, such works would entail destruction of the original landscape of the mine cave which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Therefore, the Administration considered that it was not desirable to develop the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mines into a tourist attraction.
As for the Ma On Shan Iron Mines, a working group was set up by Sha Tin District Council in 2000 to explore the possibility of revitalising and developing it into a theme park of mine. The working group comprised representatives from government departments including Tourism Commission, CEDD, Leisure and Cultural Services Department and PlanD. Though the conceptual theme park of mine did not come to fruition, the Ma On Shan Iron Mines was featured in a book on Ma On Shan published by the Sha Tin District Council afterwards.
(3) The Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) announced in March 2009 the assessment results on the heritage value and proposed gradings of 1 444 historic buildings (most of which were built before 1950). During the four-month public consultation exercise, submissions were received from the public proposing new items for assessment and possible grading. Though no mine/mine cave was included in the list of the 1 444 historic buildings, the AAB received proposals for grading the buildings in Ma On Shan Iron Mines, both during the public consultation exercise and afterwards. In the light of these proposals, the Antiquities and Monuments Office added four items related to the Iron Mines to the list of new items for consideration by AAB. They include the exterior walls of Mines 110ML and 240ML in Ma On Shan, Sha Tin; Mineral Preparation Plant; and the Yan Kwong Lutheran Church and St Joseph's Church at Ma On Shan Tsuen.
At its meeting on February 20, 2013, the AAB decided to conduct assessments for the new items and the outstanding buildings pending grading assessment in the list of 1 444 buildings at the same time. The studies on the heritage value of the above four items related to the Ma On Shan Iron Mines have been completed. Subject to the assessment by the Historic Buildings Assessment Panel, the assessment results and proposed gradings of these new items will be submitted to the AAB for consideration. As per the usual procedures, the AAB will conduct a one-month public consultation on the proposed gradings after its meeting prior to confirming the gradings of these new items.
(4) As mentioned in part (2), the Mui Wo residents proposed to the PlanD to consider re-opening the Silver Mine Cave as a tourist attraction in 2007. But the CEDD concluded after a study that it was not desirable to open the mine caves for public visits. Instead, it would carry out beautification works and upgrade the amenities outside the upper cave with a view to converting the cave into a scenic spot. Besides, the Heung Yee Kuk New Territories and Lin Ma Hang Village Office made submissions to the PlanD in 2007 proposing to develop the derelict Lin Ma Hang Lead Mines into a tourist attraction. But it was concluded after a study that it was not desirable to develop the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mines into a tourist attraction.
(5) The PlanD is responsible for planning the development in different districts. It will examine the feasibility of revitalising the derelict mines/mine caves into tourist attractions when planning the developments of the districts where these mines/mine caves are located.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:50
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