Wonder what it’s like to stand at the edge of a new town built on history? We’re at Hang Hau in Hong Kong. It is more than just a residential area. Hang Hau is an area that whispers tales of change.
Hang Hau sits on the eastern edge of Tseung Kwan O. It is a new town in Sai Kung. Much of Hang Hau is built on land reclaimed from the sea. Once, Hang Hau Village and Shui Bin Village thrived here.
Let’s journey back to the 19th century. At that time Hang Hau was an agricultural and fishing village. The name Hang Hau comes from a large water channel. It ran near Mang Kung Uk and flowed to the sea. Imagine a waterfront village facing Junk Bay. Village names like Shui Bin tell the story. Shui Bin means Waterside Village.
The Hang Hau Rural Committee formed in 1957. It served the indigenous people of several villages. Those villages included Hang Hau Village and Shui Bin Village.
Between the 1960s and 1980s Hang Hau transformed. It became a shipbreaking hub. A ferry connected Junk Bay to Island East. The Hong Kong Oxygen Company built factories here and that created manufacturing jobs. Trading services soon followed.
Before Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hang Hau was close to smaller settlements. Hang Hau Village and Boon Kin Village were nearby. Today those villages have relocated near Tseung Kwan O Hospital. This move came after the new town’s development. Reclaimed land makes up two-thirds of Hang Hau. The sea is now a distant memory.
Look around. You will spot old three-story village houses on Hang Hau’s eastern edge. New private and public estates fill the landscape. The area’s blend of old and new reflects its unique journey.
Consider a trip to Hang Hau Tin Hau Temple. It stands as a reminder of the past. This sacred place connects the new town to its roots as a fishing village.
Hang Hau’s story is one of constant change. It evolved from a fishing village. The area then became a shipbreaking center. It is now a modern residential hub. As you explore Hang Hau, remember its past. Envision its future. Feel the pulse of a town forever adapting. As the MTR pulls into Hang Hau Station, reflect on the area’s vibrant story.