Pak Mong

Pak Mong (Chinese: 白芒; lit. 'white miscanthus') is a village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, located near Tai Ho Wan, a bay on the northern shore of Lantau Island, and northeast of Tung Chung.

Entrance gate of Pak Mong (outside view).
Entrance gate of Pak Mong (inside view).
Pak Mong Watchtower.
Paifang of Pak Mong.
Former Pak Mong School.

Administration

Pak Mong is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy.[1]

History

The village was founded by Hakka settlers during the Ming period in the 16th and 17th centuries, and prospered in the trade from Canton to Cheung Chau. Ferries from Castle Peak (old Tuen Mun) to Pak Mong to Mui Wo to Cheung Chau facilitating the trade. The kai-to ferry service between Tuen Mun and Pak Mong only terminating in 1986.[2]

Pak Mong was historically part of the San Heung (三鄉) community, consisting of the villages of Pak Mong, Ngau Kwu Long and Tai Ho.

Features

The 18th century entrance gate of the village, an enclosing wall extending to the east and north of the village and a watch tower (built in the 1940s), were built to protect the village against pirates and bandits.[3] The watchtower is listed as a Grade II Historic Building, while the entrance gate is listed as a Grade III Historic Building.[4]

There is an abandoned village school, built in 1955, at its peak in 1975 it had around 30 children. Following abandonment of agriculture and depopulation it was closed down in 1985.[5]

A natural stream flows along the western boundary of Pak Mong Village and there is a fung shui wood behind the village. A total of 96 plant species were recorded in this fung shui wood, including Aquilaria sinensis ('Incense Tree').[6]

The village is at the start of the Hong Kong Olympic Trail (and also connects with the Islands Nature Heritage Trail), a 5.6 km long "Olympic Route" connecting to Mui Wo that was opened in celebration of Hong Kong's hosting of the equestrian events in the July 2008 Olympics.[7]

See also

References
  1. "List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy" (PDF). Lands Department. September 2009.
  2. Williams, Martin (23 November 2012). "History of Pak Mong on Lantau". www.hkoutdoors.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  3. Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Entrance Gate, Pak Mong
  4. Antiquities Advisory Board. of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results
  5. Kong, Hidden Hong. "Hidden Hong Kong". Hidden Hong Kong. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  6. "Minutes of 1054th Meeting of the Town Planning Board held on 14.3.2014. Agenda Item 7. Consideration of the Draft Tai Ho Development Permission Area Plan No. DPA/I-TH/E" (PDF). www.info.gov.hk. Town Planning Board. 14 March 2014. p. 12.
  7. "Olympic Trail opens". www.news.gov.hk. Retrieved 2021-08-22.

Further reading
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