“Is that really it?” you might be asking. Yes, this is Shap Yi Wat. It is a village in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin District. Shap Yi Wat is a recognized village. This recognition falls under the New Territories Small House Policy.
Shap Yi Wat sits at a high altitude. It is over 300 meters above sea level. The village is on the eastern slope of Buffalo Hill. Lion Rock Country Park surrounds it. Shap Yi Wat faces Mauzai Village across a valley.
Historically, the residents were mostly from the Tsang family. The Tsang family is one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest clans. Their ancestors branched out from Guangdong. They went through Heyuan, Bao’an, and Nantou to get here.
In 1911, Shap Yi Wat had a population of only six people. After the hard times of the Japanese occupation, only three villagers remained. By 1963, Shap Yi Wat had three families.
Shap Yi Wat participates in the Sha Tin Nine Villages Tai Ping Ching Chiu. This event occurs every ten years. The most recent one was in 2015. Eight households with 45 people joined.
Shap Yi Wat maintains good relations with other villages. These include Kwun Yam Shan Village and Mauzai Village. Villagers often intermarried.
During World War II, an Allied Flying Tigers warplane crashed near Mauzai Village. A villager from Mauzai, Hung Kwai-ying, found a pilot. She guided him to safety. The Japanese questioned her but she refused to give information. After the war, she married Tsang Sang. He was a villager from Shap Yi Wat and a member of the East River Guerrilla.
In 2011, a controversy arose. A Legislative Council member was accused of illegally occupying government land. This land was at the entrance of Shap Yi Wat. It was allegedly used for placing cargo containers. Also, illegal structures were found at his three-story house in Shap Yi Wat.
Residents rely on the Hong Kong Residents Bus NR806 for transport. This bus goes to Kwun Yam Garden and Wong Tai Sin. Villagers must walk to the bus stop at Sha Tin Pass Road. The bus service has faced suspensions and changes. This has caused difficulties for the villagers of Shap Yi Wat.
Today, Shap Yi Wat remains a small village. It holds stories of resilience and community. Its history reflects Hong Kong’s past. It connects to wider events of war and development. As you stand here, consider the lives lived in Shap Yi Wat.