The Antiquities & Monuments Office will conduct an archaeological investigation at Victoria Peak Garden as remains believed to be part of the former governors' summer residence have been discovered.

The site is part of the Peak improvement project that starts this month.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development Eva Cheng said today that to bring out the history and colonial characteristics of the Peak, a Victorian style of architecture has been adopted as the design theme for the project. The new discovery matches the theme.

Steps to the past: The former governors' summer residence on the Peak was completed in 1902 and demolished in 1946. Its remnants have been discovered under Victoria Peak Garden.

Timepieces

Pieces of wall, roof tiles and several in situ granite steps beneath the ground were found during pre-construction checks. Antiquities officers confirmed it is the location of the former governors' summer residence.

The full archaeological investigation will take about two months. Officers will conduct field investigations and test pits, and undertake a detailed recording and in-depth research on the structures discovered in the pits.

The office will submit its findings to the Government and the Antiquities Advisory Board to assess the heritage value of the site and the structures uncovered, as well as appropriate conservation approaches.

The residence was completed in 1902. However, it was infrequently used and was abandoned in the 1930s and demolished in 1946 due to high maintenance costs.

In 1970 the site became Victoria Peak Garden. Eight years later a marking stone engraved with "Governor's Residence" was discovered. It has since been displayed on the site's lawn.