A demolition project near the Ruins of St Paul's may lead to archaeological finds relating to Macau's most famous landmark, once the base for Catholic missionary work in Asia.
But some critics see the project as a veiled redevelopment plan that may spoil the surroundings of the UN-recognised world heritage site.
The Macau government has marked the location of four residential buildings to the northeast of the remaining facade of the 17th century church as an archaeological site.
'Experts of world heritage protection advised the government to carry out more comprehensive archaeological work when possible to understand the original structure of the College of St Paul's,' the government said.
'Therefore, the government decided to demolish four vacant buildings of civil servants' quarters and invite mainland archaeological experts to come to Macau for excavation.'
Work to tear down two of the four buildings in Belchior Carneiro Street began last week and is expected to last two months before excavation begins. The government has yet to decide when to start demolishing the other two buildings.
