Local archaeologists have blasted the government for failing to protect a historical north Lantau site after finding barbecue facilities on top of the ancient site.
The Hong Kong Archaeological Society returned to the site, which was discovered 16 years ago, in recent weeks to dig up artefacts and discovered the area at Luk Keng Tsuen, near Sunny Bay, had been turned into a barbecue pit.
During their excavation work, they found at least three Tang dynasty kilns and some Bronze Age molds.
Society chairman Cheng Kai-ming said a barbecue site was located at the area where the kilns were found. 'It is very likely more antiquities are lying beneath the barbecue facilities, and the construction [of the barbecue site] and the tourists may have already damaged them,' he said.
According to Mr Cheng, the archaeological site was discovered by Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1991. The barbecue facilities were set up by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department 10 years later.
'I wonder how the government departments co-ordinate as the site was known for its archaeological values 16 years ago and was preserved by the Antiquities and Monuments Offices,' he added. 'Aren't there any environmental assessments before adding facilities on conservation sites?'