The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance was enforced in 1976 to ensure that the best examples of Hong Kong's monuments are under appropriate protection. In the same year, the Antiquities Advisory Board (the Board) and the Antiquities and Monuments Office (the Office) were established. The Office, which provides secretarial and executive support to the Board in conserving places of historical and archaeological interest, is the executive arm of the Antiquities Authority.

The Office is headed by its Executive Secretary and comprises professional staff organized into four sections dealing with archaeology, historical buildings, and education and publicity, planning and management respectively. There is also a separate section to provide secretariat and administrative support to both the Board and the Office.

The work of the Office consists mainly of:
(i) identifying, recording and researching on buildings and items of historical interest;
(ii) organizing and coordinating surveys and excavations of areas of archaeological.
significance;
(iii) maintaining and developing archives of written and photographic material relating to heritage sites;
(iv) organizing the protection, restoration and maintenance of monuments;
(v) assessing and evaluating the impact of development projects on heritage
sites, as well as organizing appropriate mitigation measures;
(vi) arranging adaptive reuse of suitable historical buildings; and
(vii) fostering public awareness of Hong Kong's heritage through education and
pulicity programmes such as exhibitions, lectures, tours, workshops and setting
up of heritage trails, etc.