Beneath our feet lies a story. This is the story of Yuen Chau Kok. Once an island in Tide Cove. Now, it is a part of Sha Tin.
Yuen Chau Kok holds secrets of merchants. It holds secrets of travelers. Imagine this area bustling with trade between Guangdong and Kowloon.
Before the 1970s reclamation, Yuen Chau Kok was an island. This island served as a crucial station. It was a stop for those moving goods. It was a stop for people traveling.
Wong Uk Village played a vital role. It was a trading post until the late 19th century. The Wong clan, originally from Xingning county, founded it. That was during the reign of Qianlong. It was sometime between 1736 and 1795. The village became a hub. It connected Guangdong and Kowloon.
Sadly, most of Wong Uk Village is gone. The Sha Tin New Town development changed everything. Reclamation of Tide Cove led to demolition. Only a few reminders remain.
Look closely. See that two-story green-brick structure. That is the Old House. Wong Tsing Wo built it around 1911. He was a descendant of the Wong clan. The Old House stands as a monument. It reminds us of Yuen Chau Kok’s past. It reminds us of Wong Uk Village. The government declared it a monument in 1989.
One branch of the Tse village relocated here, too. They built their own village on Yuen Chau Kok.
Later, in the early 1980s, more reclamation happened. The Yuen Chau Kok site took shape. It was for a Housing Department project. The plan included several tall buildings. There were five buildings in total. Two were 41 stories. Three were 33 stories. And one was a 4-story complex.
Zen Pacific Civil Contractors Ltd won the contract. They were to do the piling work. Their bid was $63 million. It seemed low. Especially because they proposed using large diameter bored piles. That method is known to be costly.
Hui Hon Contractors Ltd got involved. They were not on the Housing Authority’s approved list. They made a deal with Zen Pacific. Hui Hon would design and construct the piling foundation. Zen Pacific would handle materials.
The Yuen Chau Kok site presented challenges. It was on reclaimed land. The ground had fills and marine deposits. Beneath that was decomposed material. Bedrock of quartz monzonite lay deeper. The piles needed to reach this layer. This would properly support the buildings.
The construction process involved several steps. Pre-drilling verified the pile depth. Temporary casing stabilized the shaft walls. The pile base was enlarged for support. Cleaning removed debris. A reinforcement cage was installed. Then came the concrete pouring. Finally, sonic tests checked the pile integrity.
So, Yuen Chau Kok is more than just a location. It is a testament to trade and progress. It is a reminder of what was lost. It is a story etched in the land.