Chen Chun-cheung (Uncle Cheung) was born in Shanghai in 1931. At the
age of nine, he was adopted by a Chen family in Shui Hau and has lived
in Shui Hau Village ever since. In his youth, Uncle Cheung made a living
from farming, growing rice, pineapples and sugar apples, and by raising
livestock such as pigs and chickens. He frequently travelled between
Shui Hau and Cheung Chau to sell crops and buy daily necessities. He
also helped build a section of South Lantau Road that runs between
Shek Pik Reservoir and Tong Fuk. In middle age, he secured a job at the
Waterworks Office, where he remained until retiring at 65. Nowadays, he
spends his free time growing vegetables on a small farm and has planted
a wampee tree in front of his home. He finds joy in his own way.
馮瑞珍
Born in 1946, Fung Shui-chun is a native of Shui Hau Village. Her father
Fung Yau-shing served as the village head after the war. Fung, also
known as Sister Chun, was a labourer on the Shek Pik Reservoir project.
At the age of 20, she began working in plastic and garment factories in
Tsuen Wan. With a wide circle of friends, Sister Chun loved going out
and meeting new people. In her younger years, she would gather herbs
from the hills and then walk all the way to Mui Wo to catch the ferry to
Hong Kong Island, where she sold the herbs to Chinese medicine shops.
Sometimes she would accompany her father to social events to meet
government officials, hang out at his friends’ shops, and also ride the
tram for fun.
Born in 1950, Wong Kau-kan (Uncle Kau) has lived in Tai O all his life.
His grandfather moved from Dongguan to Hong Kong and settled in Tai
O. He founded a funeral service business that served the entire South
Lantau area, including Shui Hau Village. At the age of 16, Uncle Kau
began working alongside his father, learning on the job. He eventually
took over the family business and continues to run it today. The Shui Hau
Diary team first met Uncle Kau when he officiated the funeral of Shui
Hau Village head Chan Yuk-kei’s mother. We had the chance to speak
with him about traditional funeral practices in Shui Hau and across
South Lantau.
For the conservation of Shui Hau
Prof. Thomas Chung
Thomas Chung Wang-leung is a Professor at the School of Architecture,
the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and the project leader
of Regenerating Shui Hau: Developing Sustainable Village Revitalization in
Lantau South through Heritage Restoration, Cultural Conservation and Village
Co-operatives. He is also involved in architectural and landscape
conservation projects in areas like Mui Tsz Lam, Kuk Po and Tai Tung
Shan. He strives to conserve rural architecture and cultural landscapes
over the long term by restoring and preserving historic buildings,
documenting local heritage, and establishing villagers-led cooperatives.
Dr. Chloe Lai Wing-sze is an urban researcher and curator of the nonprofit
organisation Urban Diary. She is committed to promoting
sustainability through community storytelling. She was behind the
book Forgotten Lantau: Tales of Shui Hau and the documentary Rhymes of
Shui Hau, both released in 2017. In 2024, she returned to Shui Hau Village
to delve deeper into its cultural landscape and document the stories
of local villagers. Her work invites the public to rediscover rural life in
Hong Kong and reflect on their close ties with nature, fostering a shared
concern for environmental conservation.