When a relic of considerable antiquity is unearthed, it is inevitably hailed as a "priceless find". While it's natural to get excited about the recent, supposedly "priceless", Song and Yuan Dynasties finds at Sacred Hill in To Kwa Wan, the event should probably also serve as a thunderous wake-up call to apply commonsense where it is due.

The preservation of the relics, plus a delay of almost 12 months to the opening of the Shatin to Central Link and To Kwa Wan Station, will cost the MTR and the government dearly. The bill is already over the HK$4 billion mark. There's still more fiscal pain to be endured, as there is no hope that the new line will be completed on schedule for December 2018.

Following months of study by officials and interested parties, it was decided that seven ancient features at the site, including two square wells, a drainage channel, a stone pathway and the remnants of some 1,000-year-old structures, would be preserved where they stand. But now two of our leading archaeologists have bluntly stated that to do so is a waste of public funds. Professor Tang Chung, Director of the Chinese University Center for Chinese Archaeology and Art, has been quoted as saying, "Spending billions of dollars would be against any commonsense in archaeology anywhere in the world." And William Meacham, former chairman of the Hong Kong Archaeological Society, has expressed support for his views. In light of this development, surely there is a case for urgent review of the decision.

The Sung Wong Toi Monument, discovered on Sacred Hill 150 years ago, was one of our most significant historical relics. Sung Wong Toi means "Terrace of the Song Kings". The monument commemorates the two boy emperors - brothers Zhao Shi (Chao Shi) and Zhao Bing (Chao Ping) - in the mid-1270s. Their deaths at the age of 10 and 9 respectively brought the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) to a close. Interestingly, both lived in Hong Kong temporarily during those troubled times.

Originally the Sung Wong Toi Monument was a massive boulder 45 meters tall, sitting atop "Sacred Hill", an eminence in Ma Tau Chung overlooking Kowloon Bay. The three characters of "Sung Wong Toi" were carved out of the boulder.

Assured by local elders that the boulder was of enormous historical significance, the newly founded colony's authorities ensured the preservation of both the boulder and the hill, by means of a special Protection Order.

But down the decades other governments found more practical uses for the land on which the monument and its surroundings stood. The boulder, now somewhat truncated but still adorned by the original inscription, is today the centerpiece of the Sung Wong Toi Garden in Ma Tau Wai, while Sacred Hill is no more.

Apparently removal of the hill took place during the Japanese occupation of 1941-45, when soil from the site was used to extend the runway of the original Kai Tak airport, which was then a Japanese air base.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has a splendid museum of history in East Tsim Sha Tsui with a most interesting Permanent Exhibition on the early history of Hong Kong. A variety of other historical relics - such as the eight ancient rock carvings overlooking the waters off our shores and believed to date back to the Bronze Age - are scattered across Hong Kong.

Ravaged by the weather over succeeding centuries, these have suffered severe erosion but nevertheless retain some visible evidence of the original carvings. These carved rocks are located in Po Toi, Tung Lung, Cheung Chau and Kau Sai Chau Islands and so on.

The exact location of these carvings is not widely known to the public, as there is a risk that vandals might damage them. They are more or less concealed in almost inaccessible nooks and crannies. Only skilled climbers using proper equipment would be able to access them.

Because of their positioning amid rocks facing the incoming waves, it is believed the carvings were meant to calm and propitiate the ancient Gods of the Sea, and also protect sailors from storms.

Another ancient relic is the Lei Cheng Uk Han Dynasty tomb housed in a museum of the same name in Tonkin Street, Cheung Sha Wan. The tomb is believed to be as old as the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220) but be warned that it is no longer on display. Only photographs of it can be seen. Nevertheless, its existence proves Chinese civilization reached Hong Kong 2,000 years ago.

Finally we have also preserved two newer relics, the Law Uk Folk Museum in Chai Wan (a fully restored Hakka village dwelling) and the Sam Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan (a restored Hakka walled village).

In these circumstances is there really a case for preserving two square wells, a drainage channel, a stone pathway and some other ancient remains at such enormous cost?

The author is a former journalist and civil servant.

(HK Edition 12/19/2014 page7)