EVENTS
Event Highlights
Visit to FSD’s Diving Base and Luncheon Talk on Underwater Archaeology
2023-09-06
On 6 September, the Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) and the Hong Kong Public Archaeological Society (HKPAS) co-organized a rich programme of summer activities. In the morning, participants visited the Fire Services Department’s (FSD) Diving Base to learn about the specific works and training content of the FSD’s Diving Team. In the lunch time, they attended the Talk on Underwater Archaeology to know more about the current situation of underwater archaeology in China and Hong Kong.
First of all, Senior Station Officer Mr Cheung Ka-wo and his colleagues from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Diving Unit introduced the organizational structure, operations and services of the FSD Diving Team. They briefly explained some of the facilities at the base and the content of the rescue training courses. The firefighters then demonstrated the rescue training and some actual rescue works, such as simulated sea rescue and rapid flood rescue. They also showed to participants the compression chamber and recompression chamber and introduced the rescue and treatment functions for saving lives. In addition, some diving technology, search equipment and technical diving equipment were presented by the firefighters. Participants also visited facilities for rapid marine rescue, such as diving support speedboats and marine rescue motorcycles. At the end of the tour, they gained a better understanding of the specific work and services of the Diving Team and the Team’s contributions to the society.
After the visit, participants headed to the restaurant by coach to enjoy the luncheon talk “Underwater Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage in China and Hong Kong” hosted by Dr Peter Wong of the Hong Kong Public Archaeological Society. He briefly explained the definition, the history and the major discoveries of underwater archaeology in China, and focused on several important sites such as Guangdong’s “Nanhai No. 1”, Chongqing Baiheliang and Yangtze River Estuary No.2, as well as the challenges of conducting underwater archaeology. Finally, Dr Wong introduced the underwater archaeological exploration activities carried out by the HKPAS and Hong Kong Underwater Archaeological Association in the High Island Reservoir and the sea area where Cheung Po Tsai fought (between Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok) in the hope that Hong Kong's underwater archaeology can be further developed.
