Digging up Hong Kong’s Qing dynasty past likely to delay development needed for its future
Urban Renewal Authority plans further excavation at city’s last urban walled village Nga Tsin Wai after previous discovery of historic foundations
The redevelopment of Hong Kong’s last urban walled village faces an uncertain future after the Urban Renewal Authority announced on Thursday that it had expanded an archaeological dig at the site.
The authority began its expanded excavation earlier this year, and a full assessment report is expected by the end of 2018. Officials said there would be no redevelopment work at the site until the report is completed.
Built at the four corners of the village, the two-storey towers were erected in 1573. They stood more than seven metres high and were used to help protect the village from marauding pirates and bandits during China’s Taiping Rebellion in 1854.
The authority entered into a joint venture agreement in 2008 with Cheung Kong Property Holdings, now CK Asset Holdings Limited, to develop four residential towers at the site by 2023-24. The company acquired about 70 per cent of the property interests in the village.
