Former Antiquities Advisory Board chairman Andrew Lam says the discovery at San Tin Technopole of a cluster of tombs believed to date back to the Ming dynasty will not have much of an impact on the project's development.

The Development Bureau says the Antiquities and Monuments Office is assessing the historical value of the tombs and will discuss any mitigation measures required with the Civil Engineering and Development Department.

On an RTHK radio programme, Lam said San Tin Technopole is still at the initial planning stage and changes can be made if necessary.

"Preliminary planning has been carried out and there's now an outline. The government has also begun resuming land. Based on my understanding, the location of the historical site is designated as roads," he said.

"Is there absolutely no flexibility to amend the road layout as well as the use of surrounding areas to preserve the site? I think that if it is confirmed to carry historical value, such flexibility should exist. As the project is still at the early stage of planning, road planning in particular should have a greater flexibility theoretically."

Lam, who is also a lawmaker, added that it is rare to find structures in Hong Kong that date back to the Ming dynasty.

He said relevant groups should formulate a grading assessment for tombs so preservation work can be carried out depending on their historical value.

Meanwhile, a descendant of the Tang clan of Lung Yeuk Tau told RTHK that as far as he knows, the tombs belong to his ancestors.

The man said he hopes the tombs can remain in place and that the site can be opened to the public in future.