A temple once stood here. Hung Shing Temple moved to Fuk Tsun Street. Let’s delve into its history. Tai Hung Tsui might not be what you expect.
Originally in Fuk Chuen Village, the temple marked where Boundary Street and Tai Kok Tsui Road met. In 1928 government development forced a relocation. The temple found a new home on Fuk Tsun Street. This street was named after the original village.
Inside Hung Shing Temple stood a bronze bell. It dated back to 1887. A stone was laid in 1930. Hung Shing, the God of the Sea, wasn’t alone. Wong Tai Sin, Koon Yim, the God of the Earth, and the King of North were also honored.
Fishermen along China’s southern coast revered Hung Shing. History says he was Hung Hei. He was an official in the Tong Dynasty. Hung Hei possessed great knowledge of geography and astronomy. He aided merchants and fishermen greatly. His early passing led people to wish for his continued protection. They built temples and worshiped him. The Tong Dynasty’s Emperor recognized him as the King of the South Sea.
Every Lunar calendar on February 13th, people celebrated. They thanked Hung Shing for luck and safety throughout the year. This became the traditional Hung Shing Festival date.
After its relocation to Tai Kok Tsui, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals managed Hung Shing Temple. The Antiquities Advisory Board defined the temple as a Grade III Building.
Now Tai Hung Tsui is also linked to the Triads. These are Chinese transnational organized crime syndicates. They originated from secret societies. These societies aimed to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Over time, Triads spread beyond China. They operate in many countries with significant overseas Chinese populations.
Triads engage in various criminal activities. These include drug trafficking, money laundering and counterfeiting. They’re also involved in extortion and illegal gambling.
Some Triads have connections to the Chinese government. They act as agents for political objectives. This includes suppressing dissent and intimidating critics. The Triads’ structure uses numeric codes. These codes distinguish ranks. Numbers are based on Chinese numerology. Rituals and oaths bind Triad members. They participate in initiation ceremonies.
Several Triad clans are based in Hong Kong. Among the most powerful is Sun Yee On. It has more than 25000 members worldwide. The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau combats these groups. Primary laws address Triads. They are the Societies Ordinance and the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.