Picture this. A tiny fishing village clinging to the edge of the sea. This is Sam Mun Tsai Wan before the great change. Before the waters rose and swallowed their homes whole.
Sam Mun Tsai Wan was more than just a village. It was a community of resilient fishermen. Their lives were deeply intertwined with the sea. Generations had cast their nets in these waters. They built their lives on the rhythm of the tides. Their homes were simple. Built of wood and stone. Some families even lived on boats.
Then came the ambitious Plover Cove Reservoir project. An engineering marvel. It was a reservoir carved from the sea. A groundbreaking feat. But for the people of Sam Mun Tsai Wan it meant the end of their world. In 1965 roughly 400 residents faced eviction. They lost their ancestral homes. Their livelihoods were shattered. The village was submerged.
But the spirit of Sam Mun Tsai Wan didn’t drown. The fishermen were relocated. They moved to Sam Mun Tsai New Village. A small island less than a kilometer from their old home. Thirty-six families started anew. They faced hardships. There was no running water. No electricity. No toilets. Living space was scarce. Families slept in corridors. Some even returned to sleeping on their boats.
The fishermen faced many challenges. Fishing yields declined. Many left for work on construction sites. Yet the village persisted. The people persevered. They rebuilt their lives. They adapted to change. They honored their heritage.
Today Sam Mun Tsai New Village thrives. It’s a testament to their resilience. A symbol of their enduring spirit. Sam Mun Tsai Wan may be gone but its story lives on. It is a story of sacrifice. A story of loss. But most importantly a story of hope and renewal. It is a reminder that even when faced with overwhelming challenges the human spirit endures. It’s a story that deserves to be remembered. A story we should never forget.