Was Tai Wo named after a market? The answer is complex. Let me tell you the story of Tai Wo Amphitheatre and the areas around it.
The Tai Wo area has a rich history. It is intertwined with markets and development in the Tai Po District. Understanding its story helps us appreciate the area surrounding Tai Wo Amphitheatre today.
Historically, “Tai Wo” referred to the area around Fu Shin Street. It was on the southern shore of the Lam Tsuen River. This area was also known as Tai Wo Market. It served as a market town for Tai Po and nearby villages.
In 1892, the Tai Po Tsat Yeuk developed Tai Wo Market. This alliance of villages sought to challenge the monopoly of the old Tai Po Market. The Tang clans of Lung Yeuk Tau and Tai Po Tau controlled this older market.
Adding to the confusion, the government also operates an indoor wet market. It is called Tai Po Hui Market. It is located in the Tai Po Complex. The former location of this market is now Po Heung Estate.
The old Tai Po Market railway station served Tai Wo Shi, or Fu Shin Street. Its accessibility made it an important market town. However, the station closed in 1983. It was replaced by the current Tai Po Market station and Tai Wo station.
Today, the area around Fu Shin Street is known as Tai Po Market. It has become the town center of Tai Po. It houses various government buildings.
The name “Tai Wo” has shifted over time. It now refers to the area around Tai Wo station. This includes the Tai Wo Estate. The Tai Wo Estate and Po Nga Court were completed in 1989. They are large public housing estates. They sit on the northern shore of the Lam Tsuen River.
The area of Tai Wo Estate was once planned as an industrial area. But this plan was scrapped in 1983. Ironically, the Tang clan of Tai Po Tau, who operated the old Tai Po Market, once owned farmlands here. The government bought back these farmlands for the Tai Po New Town development.
Tai Wo Plaza is the shopping center adjacent to the Tai Wo station. In 2005, the Hong Kong Housing Authority sold the shopping center to Link REIT. In 2010, the real estate investment trust renamed it from Tai Wo shopping centre to Tai Wo Plaza.
So as you stand here at Tai Wo Amphitheatre, remember the layers of history beneath your feet. The markets, the development, and the shifting names all contribute to the area’s unique identity. The story of Tai Wo is a story of change and adaptation. It continues to evolve even today.