A world of stories awaits. Welcome to the Lei Yue Mun Public Library. This isn’t just a place for books. It is a community hub steeped in local history. The Lei Yue Mun Public Library wasn’t always called that.
In 2000, the government constructed a multipurpose building. This included a market, a sports center, and of course the library. It was initially named Sam Ka Tsuen. However, not everyone in the village was happy with the name. After vocal protests, it was renamed in 2003. It became the Lei Yue Mun Municipal Services Building.
Before this building existed, villagers relied on their own resources. Lei Yue Mun was largely self-sufficient. It had salt fields and vegetable farms. Villagers even raised their own pigs and chickens. The only thing they needed from outside was rice.
Let’s journey back further in time. Two hundred years ago, during the Ching Dynasty, the Tin Hau Temple was built. It was built by a pirate named Zheng Lianchang. Lei Yue Mun has been inhabited since then. But those early settlers are not related to today’s residents.
Despite its current reputation, Lei Yue Mun doesn’t have a long history of fishing. Fishermen worked nearby. But they were mostly based on the other side of the harbor in Shau Kei Wan. In Lei Yue Mun, residents were mostly miners and farmers.
Quarries operated here since the 19th century. They required considerable manpower. Many workers migrated from Canton. They settled in and around Lei Yue Mun. The population increased in the 1930s. Turmoil in China drove more people to the British Colony. Farming also became a major industry.
In the early 1960s, small fishermen started selling fish directly from their boats. They moored along piers in many places, including Lei Yue Mun. There were two simple restaurants at that time. Fresh seafood combined with immediate cooking was a winning formula. At first, it remained small and popular only with locals.
A boost came when the government banned explosives after the Riots. Explosives were vital to the mining industry. Many smaller mines closed because they couldn’t get licenses. This created unemployment. But the closure of a quarry also opened a more direct route to the village.
Local businesses sensed a potential for growth. In 1967, they formed a Business Association. With government help, people started working on seafood sales and restaurants. The association helped the new seafood restaurants. They were officially part of a squatter village. The association helped them get piped water, electricity, and other services.
By the 1970s, China trade grew. The nearby Kwun Tong industrial area boosted Lei Yue Mun’s business. Local factory owners took overseas clients to see authentic Hong Kong dining. Lei Yue Mun became a tourist destination.
In the 1980s, the Hong Kong Tourist Association supported Lei Yue Mun. It became internationally known as a major seafood destination. In 1992, the local residents association started an annual Seafood Festival. It continues in a small way to this day.
In 2003, the Tourism District Enhancement program built a new entrance gateway. It paved the roads making the seafood restaurants easier to reach. Today, the Lei Yue Mun Public Library stands as a testament to this area’s rich and varied past. It embodies the community’s spirit of self-reliance. It mirrors adaptation and growth. As you explore the library, remember the miners, farmers, and fishermen who shaped Lei Yue Mun. Their stories are as valuable as any book on these shelves.