Suspected shipwreck discovery in Hong Kong could delay major construction project
Remains of a large suspected shipwreck have been found in the sea bed off Wan Chai during dredging works for the construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass.
Remains of a large suspected shipwreck have been found in the sea bed off Wan Chai during dredging works for the construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass.
The discovery, about six metres below the sea bed near the old Wan Chai Ferry Pier, was made late last year. If it is determined to be of historical significance it could prompt an investigation which would delay the project.
The Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link has an estimated total cost of HK$36 billion.
"According to the initial information gathered so far, there is a possibility that the object is part of a shipwreck.
"More details and the impact on related works are subject to further investigation and assessment," the department said in a statement.
Frogmen were examining the area yesterday.
The age and model of the ship is not yet known. Some possibilities are that the vessel could have been sabotaged during the second world war or it sank during a typhoon, local historian Cheng Po-hung said.
"Before the major reclamation works in 1964, the Wan Chai coastline lay on the present Gloucester Road. The location [where the remains were found] was part of the harbour with busy traffic," he said.
Judging from the proximity to war-time military facilities including an arsenal, dockyard and military camps, he said the discovery could possibly be one of the British ships which were sabotaged during the 18-day Battle of Hong Kong to repel Japanese invaders.
The most famous ship scuttled at that time was the HMS Tamar, after which the area Tamar was named. Cheng added that many ships also sank in major typhoon disasters in Hong Kong in 1874, 1906 and 1937.
Cheng said they could only determine the value of the discovery after it had been salvaged.
Dr Greg Wong Chak-yan, a former president of the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers, said that if the find was just considered waste metal, it might take a few months to dismantle and cut into pieces for removal. But if it is confirmed as having historical value that should be preserved, it could take years for experts to study and salvage the vessel.
Works on the bypass started in 2009 and it is scheduled for completion in 2017. It is part of a Wan Chai development project that will also provide space for commercial buildings and a promenade.