Beneath our feet lies a story etched in iron ore. Welcome to Ma On Shan Tsuen a village born from the belly of a mountain. This isn’t just any village. Ma On Shan Tsuen is a testament to Hong Kong’s industrial past.
The village’s story began with the Ma On Shan Iron Mine. The mine opened in 1906. Initially, it was an opencast site. The Hong Kong Iron Mining Company ran it. In 1949, the Mutual Mining and Trade Company took over. They expanded the mine underground in 1953. By 1959, all mining happened underground.
Imagine this place bustling with life. In its peak after 1950, Ma On Shan Tsuen housed over 10000 residents. Most of these were refugees from Mainland China. They came here with their families. They sought work in the mines. Changes to iron ore mining methods in 1953 caused a rapid population boom.
But like all booms, this one faded. The mine ceased operations in 1976. This led to a mass exodus. Miners and their families left Ma On Shan Tsuen in search of new opportunities. By 2014, only 80 people called this village home. Some say it was 80 families by 2015.
Ma On Shan Tsuen had two churches. There was St. Joseph’s Church. There was also the Lutheran Yan Kwong Church. Both played vital roles in the community.
St. Joseph’s Church opened on April 25 1952. It was part of a larger Catholic complex. This complex had a primary school a kindergarten a small clinic and a convent. The church was rebuilt in 1962. Regular Sunday services stopped in 1981. The church closed in 1999.
The Lutheran Yan Kwong Church was inaugurated on June 22 1952. It was part of a five-building complex. It included a church a primary school a kindergarten quarters and a store. The primary school closed in 1976. It later moved to Heng On Estate. In 1987, it was renamed Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School. The church complex became a campsite. It was called Grace Youth Camp. Landslides damaged the complex in 2003. It was abandoned. The church building reopened in 2015. It is now a community hall and a center. It highlights the history and culture of the village.
Several structures in Ma On Shan Tsuen are now historic monuments. The exterior walls of the Ma On Shan Iron Mine the Mineral Preparation Plant the Site Structures at Mining Settlement St. Joseph’s Church and Lutheran Yan Kwong Church all received recognition in April 2016.
Today, Ma On Shan Tsuen stands as a quiet reminder. It reminds us of Hong Kong’s industrial spirit. It shows the lives of those who toiled beneath the surface. As you explore this village consider the echoes of the past. Imagine the miners the families and the churches. Feel the weight of history in the very stones beneath your feet. The Ma On Shan Iron Mine operated for 70 years from 1906 to 1976. The mine was surely its largest mine.