How many know that Tai Hom was once a dream factory. Let me tell you about the fascinating history of Tai Hom Village.
Tai Hom Village was established in 1800. Zhu Ren-feng founded it. He was involved in quarrying and construction. Early development was slow. About 50 residents lived there after a hundred years. Most villagers farmed. Quarrying became their major occupation. This happened when Diamond Hill quarry opened.
However the original villagers scattered. This happened after the Japanese Occupation. Tai Hom Village then became a squatter area. In 1992 the Administration began land resumption. The clearance finished in 2001.
In March 2008 the Administration started Shatin-Central Link work. The plan was to build a depot. It was to be at the former Tai Hom Village site. In mid 2014 the Administration decided to build public housing. They also planned Home Ownership Scheme flats. Spaces might be reserved for other facilities.
In 2001 Wong Tai Sin District Council wanted to preserve three structures. This was during the height of the clearance. These structures were a stone house at 4 Tai Koon Yuen. It was a Graded III historical building. The former Royal Air Force RAF hangar also joined the list. It was also a Graded III historical building. The old pillbox was next. It was a Graded II historical building.
Tai Koon Yuen was established in 1947. It was named after a mansion. The mansion was in the classic Chinese Novel Hong Lau Meng. Tai Koon Yuen was once a farm. Many famous film studios stood near Tai Hom Village. This happened in the 1940s and 1950s. They included Dai Guan Film Production Factory. It later became Diamond Film Production Factory. Jian Cheng Film Production Factory was another.
Tai Koon Yuen became home to many film industry workers. This was because of its nice environment. It was also close to these studios. The stone house at 4 Tai Koon Yuen belonged to Wu Junzhao. He was the Ex-manager of the former Shanghai Bank of Communications. Qiao Hong rented it in the 1950s and 1960s. The house at 5 Tai Koon Yuen is now demolished. Li Hanxiang once lived there. He was a famous film director.
The stone houses show Diamond Hill industries. The stone house’s historical value links it to Hong Kong film industry. It also connects to the quarrying industry. The stone house was built with granites. These granites were excavated in the Diamond Hill quarry.
The RAF hangar was built in Kai Tak in 1934. It was dismantled in 1940. This was due to the construction of the new runway. During 1941-1945 the Japanese Air Force re-erected the hangar on-site. It housed mainly Zero-Sen fighters. The hangar could be taken down and reassembled quickly. It is the only surviving pre-war military aircraft hangar in Hong Kong. After the RAF vacated it in the 1970s it served various functions. These included village industries and godown storage. The old pillbox nearby was built by the Japanese Air Force. It was used as a shelter for aircrew and technicians.
Hong Kong is often called the Hollywood of the East. The former Tai Hom Village site was the earliest dream factory of film industry in Hong Kong. Many film studios were set up there. These included Jian Cheng Film Production Factory and Dai Guan Film Production Factory. Famous movies and TV dramas were produced there. An example is The Chronicle of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre by TVB.
A creative movie park was proposed. The aim was to revive Tai Hom Village. It would become a dream factory again. It would promote the Hong Kong film industry.
There was also a proposal to turn the adjacent water catchment area into a living water garden. This would connect with the revitalized Kai Tak River. It would create a cultural oasis. It would integrate heritage preservation nature conservation and community revitalization. So next time you think of Tai Hom remember its rich history and contributions.