Building works
Declared monuments and Grade 1–3 buildings in Hong Kong
Hong Kong protects heritage buildings in two different ways. A declared monument is protected by law under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. A Grade 1, 2 or 3 historic building has an administrative grading that does not, by itself, give statutory protection.
At a glance
- Law
- Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53), 1976
- Antiquities Authority
- Secretary for Development
- Declared monuments
- 138 items as at 30 January 2026
- Grading
- Grade 1, 2 or 3, an administrative assessment
- Grading on its own
- No statutory protection
Hong Kong protects heritage buildings in two different ways, and the difference matters if you own, buy or plan works to one. A declared monument is protected by law under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53). A graded historic building, Grade 1, 2 or 3, has an administrative grading which, according to the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO), does not by itself give statutory protection. AMO publishes both records, so check there first.
Who does what
- Antiquities Authority. The Secretary for Development. Declares monuments under the Ordinance.
- Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB). Consulted before a monument is declared. Its grading of historic buildings is the Grade 1, 2 and 3 system.
- Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO). The executive arm of the Antiquities Authority. It also provides secretarial and executive support to the AAB.
AMO’s introduction page says the Ordinance was enforced in 1976 so that the best examples of Hong Kong’s monuments are under appropriate protection, and that the AAB and AMO were set up in the same year.
How a monument is declared
Under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, the Antiquities Authority may, after consultation with the AAB and with the approval of the Chief Executive, declare a place, building, site or structure to be a monument by notice in the Gazette. For a building, the test is whether the Authority considers it to be of public interest by reason of its historical significance.
Once a monument is declared, the Antiquities Authority is empowered to prevent alterations, or to impose the conditions it thinks fit on proposed alterations, to protect the monument. AMO says 138 items had been declared as monuments by 30 January 2026. The full list is on AMO’s declared monuments page.
What Grade 1, 2 and 3 mean
| Grade | Definition used by the AAB and AMO |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Buildings of outstanding merit, which every effort should be made to preserve if possible |
| Grade 2 | Buildings of special merit; efforts should be made to selectively preserve |
| Grade 3 | Buildings of some merit; preservation in some form would be desirable, and alternative means could be considered if preservation is not practicable |
These definitions are administrative guidelines adopted by the AAB and AMO. AMO’s page on the assessment of 1,444 historic buildings and new items says grading a building as Grade 1 does not by itself put it under statutory protection.
Declared, proposed and graded compared
| Status | Basis | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Declared monument | Declaration under Cap. 53 | Statutory protection. The Antiquities Authority can prevent alterations or set conditions |
| Proposed monument | Declaration under Cap. 53 | Used when a building needs immediate statutory protection |
| Grade 1, 2 or 3 | Administrative grading by the AAB | No statutory protection on its own |
The link between grading and declaration is the Grade 1 pool. AMO says the Antiquities Authority actively considers whether a Grade 1 building has reached the high threshold of heritage value for declaration. It may declare the building a proposed monument if it needs immediate statutory protection, for example because it is under threat of demolition or because alteration or renovation works are proposed that may affect its heritage value.
If you own or plan works to a historic building
- Check the status. Look the building up on AMO’s declared monuments list and its historic buildings assessment pages.
- Talk to AMO early. For a declared monument, the Antiquities Authority can prevent alterations or impose conditions. For a Grade 1 building, proposed works that may affect its heritage value are one of the situations AMO names for a proposed monument declaration.
- Check for archaeology. AMO says a licence to excavate and search for antiquities must be obtained under the Ordinance before any such project starts. See AMO’s archaeological work page.
- Appoint the right professionals. Heritage status does not replace the usual building appointments. Our guide to the professionals the Buildings Ordinance requires explains them, and our guide to submitting building plans covers approvals. Ask your Authorized Person which approvals your works need.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a grading protects a building by law. On its own, it does not.
- Assuming an ungraded or Grade 3 building has no heritage issue. Check AMO’s records, including new items under assessment.
- Treating a firm’s heritage portfolio as an AMO approval. A practice’s list of heritage projects is its own description of its work. Check named architects on the ARB Register.
Our architecture directory tags cultural and heritage work only where a practice names it on its own website. That tag is not an AMO appointment or a Buildings Department consent. ranked.hk is not AMO or the Buildings Department, and this guide is not legal advice.
Questions people ask
What is a declared monument in Hong Kong?
It is a place, building, site or structure declared a monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53). The Antiquities Authority makes the declaration by notice in the Gazette, after consulting the Antiquities Advisory Board and with the approval of the Chief Executive.
How many declared monuments are there in Hong Kong?
The Antiquities and Monuments Office says 138 items had been declared as monuments under the Ordinance by 30 January 2026. Check AMO’s list of declared monuments for the current number and the individual entries.
Is a Grade 1 historic building the same as a declared monument?
No. Grading is an administrative assessment, and AMO says grading a building as Grade 1 does not by itself put it under statutory protection. Declaration under the Ordinance does. The Antiquities Authority actively considers whether Grade 1 buildings have reached the high threshold for declaration.
What do Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 mean?
Grade 1 is a building of outstanding merit, which every effort should be made to preserve if possible. Grade 2 is a building of special merit, which efforts should be made to selectively preserve. Grade 3 is a building of some merit, where preservation in some form would be desirable and alternative means could be considered if preservation is not practicable.
What is a proposed monument?
A building can be declared a proposed monument under the Ordinance when it needs immediate statutory protection, for example if it is under threat of demolition or works are proposed that may affect its heritage value.
Can a declared monument be altered?
Only within the limits the Antiquities Authority sets. Once a monument is declared, the Authority is empowered to prevent alterations, or to impose conditions on proposed alterations, to protect it. Contact AMO before planning any work.