A flicker of sunlight dances on the grill. Shek Lei Pui Reservoir BBQ Site No.2. That’s where we are. Right here amidst the laughter and sizzling meat. Can you imagine the history woven into this very spot?
This isn’t just any barbecue area. Shek Lei Pui Reservoir BBQ Site No.2 holds a piece of Hong Kong’s past. Before the cheerful chatter and the delicious smells of grilling food this land held a small village. Shek Lei Pui Village stood here. It boasted 26 houses and 80 villagers. They lived a life tied to the land. They cultivated fields. They knew every bend of the valley.
Then came the need for more water. Hong Kong’s population boomed. The existing reservoirs couldn’t keep up. A solution was needed quickly. The Shek Lei Pui Reservoir was born. Two small dams were constructed. They impounded the water. The village had to be relocated. The villagers moved to Hin Tin a new village built for them. This created Shek Lei Pui Reservoir. The reservoir’s construction began in 1923. It was completed in 1925.
The two dams of Shek Lei Pui Reservoir are Grade II historic buildings. They stand as silent witnesses to this transformation. They remind us of a time when progress demanded sacrifice. A time when communities were uprooted for the common good. A time before this barbecue area existed.
Now look around. Families gather. Friends laugh. The aroma of cooking meat fills the air. Shek Lei Pui Reservoir BBQ Site No.2. It’s a place of modern leisure. Yet it carries the echoes of a past. A past that shaped the Hong Kong we know today. A past that adds a layer of depth to a simple barbecue.
The reservoir itself continues to serve its purpose. It provides water to a thriving city. While we enjoy our meal remember the history behind us. The history of Shek Lei Pui Reservoir BBQ Site No.2. The history of a village. The history of a reservoir. And the history of Hong Kong itself.