Beneath our feet lies the tale of Muk Min Ha. It was one of Tsuen Wan’s original villages. Imagine it. Thatched roofs and tight-knit community.
Muk Min Ha can be seen on a 1952 map. It existed long before the skyscrapers. It existed before the MTR. It was a place of farmers and families.
The village was relocated. This happened during the development of Tsuen Wan New Town. Muk Min Ha was moved to a new site to the north.
Let’s delve into the past. The larger villages near the coast were established in the early eighteenth century. This includes Sam Tung Uk, Muk Min Ha and Kwan Mun Hau. They emerged around the same time.
The eastern mudflats were reclaimed. This likely happened in the mid-eighteenth century. Hoi Pa and Yeung Uk villages then sprung up. A market soon followed. Shops lined the seawall. This served the growing district.
But progress has a price. Development led to the disappearance of many old villages. Pak Tin Pai, Chai Wan Kok and Muk Min Ha are among those gone. Their villagers were resettled. They moved to new villages along the northern edge of town.
The old market also vanished. A few houses survive at Hoi Pa. They are restored as monuments. Sam Tung Uk survives too. It is restored and used as a museum.
The cultural heritage of Tsuen Wan is concentrated in areas developed before 1959. This centers on the old villages. Tsuen Wan Road is far from these areas.
Chai Wan Kok, Pak Tin Pai, Muk Min Ha, Yeung Uk, Kwan Mun Ha and Ha Kwai Chung were utterly destroyed. Their sites were dug out. New roads and buildings now cover them. Nothing remains of cultural or historical value.
Muk Min Ha is a recognized village. This recognition is under the New Territories Small House Policy. It is a small comfort. However, it acknowledges its existence.
Think of the Hakka clan who settled here. They came from Fujian and Guangdong in the 18th century. They worked the land. Muk Min Ha was their home. Now, it lives on only in memory and maps.
Consider visiting Sam Tung Uk Museum. It offers a glimpse into the past. It shows life in 18th and 19th century Hong Kong. It connects us to those who came before. It reminds us of Muk Min Ha and other lost villages.