Slipping through a fold in time, let’s journey back to a Pak Shek Au before the concrete and steel, before the highways and railways. Imagine Pak Shek Au nestled between Ma Liu Shui and Tai Po Kau, where two creeks converged and whispered secrets to the Tolo Harbour. This wasn’t “Pak Shek Kok,” the corner of white rock, just yet. This was a simpler time, a time of whispers and shadows.
Pak Shek Au, meaning “White Rock Saddle,” earned its name from the pale stone that marked this low, sloping pass. This saddle wasn’t just a geological feature. It was a gateway, a meeting place where paths converged and stories intertwined. Our Pak Shek Au stood as a silent witness to the ebb and flow of life, the comings and goings of travelers and traders, farmers and fishermen.
Fast forward to 1924, and Pak Shek Kok isn’t even on the map. By 1967, it appears, marked as the estuary of two creeks flowing from the valleys of Cheung Shue Tau. “Kok” means convex land on the shore, perfectly describing the shape created by the meeting of these two waterways. “Pak Shek,” white rock, hints at a prominent geological feature, perhaps the very saddle that gave Pak Shek Au its name. This area, this Pak Shek Au, was the heart of it all, the focal point before reclamation swallowed the estuary whole and redirected the creeks into a single, sterile drainage.
Now, picture yourselves standing where these two creeks once kissed the Tolo Harbour. Feel the ghostly rush of water beneath your feet, the gentle sway of boats seeking shelter in the estuary. Hear the murmur of voices, the bartering of goods, the laughter of children playing along the banks. Pak Shek Au was more than just a place. It was a community, a crossroads connecting people and cultures.
Today, the landscape has transformed. The Kowloon-Canton Railway cuts a steel swathe through the reclaimed land. The Tolo Highway hums with the relentless rhythm of modern life. The Hong Kong Science Park stands as a testament to progress, its sleek buildings rising from land that once cradled the whispers of the creeks. But beneath the layers of concrete and steel, the echoes of Pak Shek Au remain, a testament to a simpler time, a reminder of the land’s enduring spirit. Close your eyes, breathe deep, and you might just hear them.