Historic Building Appraisal

N100 Historic Building Appraisal N101 Exterior wall of 240 ML (1953), Mineral Preparation Plant (1954 & 1963), Exterior wall of 110 ML (1963), Ma On Shan Iron Mine, Sha Tin, N.T.

Mining Activities in Hong Kong Historical There are few places in the world comparable in area to Hong Kong having Interest such a varied mineral resources, though not all of them are located in sufficiently large deposits to be worth working. There are currently no active commercial mining operations in Hong Kong, but there were once four major mined sites here. They were, namely, Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine (蓮麻坑鉛礦) which was extracted from 1915 to 1958; Needle Hill Tungsten (Wolfram) Mine (針山鎢礦) from 1938 to 1967; Tai Mo To Graphite Mine (大磨刀石墨礦) from 1952 to 1971, and Ma On Shan Iron Mine (馬鞍山鐵礦) from 1906 to 1976. Mining resources were extracted elsewhere in Hong Kong at a smaller scale or with a shorter period. For instance, the deposits of lead were mined at Lead Mine Pass (鉛礦凹) and Tai Mo Shan (大帽山). At Mui Wo in Lantau Island, the silvery colour of the lead ore apparently influenced the locals to name the bay there as Silvermine Bay (銀礦灣). Tungsten (also called wolfram) was mined at Castle Peak (青山), Shing Mun (城門) and Ho Chung (蠔涌). Numerous mining operations for quartz (石英) were active in many different areas such as Siu Lam (小欖), Tsing Yi (青衣) and Chek Lap Kok (赤鱲角), to name just a few. The ores were mainly exported: iron ores to Japan, graphite to the USA, Britain and Europe, lead ores to Britain and Europe, wolfram to the USA. Local ceramic and enamelware factories consumed all the quartz that was mined. As of 1956, the production of the Hong Kong mines was: iron ores (122,963 tons), graphite (2,441 tons), lead ores (198 tons), wolfram (24 tons) and quartz (2,985 tons). The marketing of the ores was on contract, c.i.f. terms and payments were made on the world market prices.

Development of Ma On Shan Iron Mine The principal iron mineral extracted from the abandoned Ma On Shan Iron Mine was magnetite. The significant iron ore body at this location was known at the beginning of the 20th century. The mine was opened in 1906 as an open-cast site until 1953, when it was extended underground. By 1959, the open-cast workings had been abandoned and all ore deposits were extracted underground, the mine workings being accessed by a number of adits that penetrated deep into the mountain. From 1949 to 1976, some 3 million tons of iron ore was extracted and principally exported to Japan.

1 The first licence to mine the Ma On Shan deposit was issued in 1906 to the Hong Kong Iron Mining Co. Ltd. (香港鐵礦公司) which was owned by Sir Paul Chater, but the company came into liquidation in 1929. In March 1931 another concern, the New Territories Iron Mining Co. Ltd. (華興礦務有限公司) founded by a Chinese engineer named Paul King, was granted a 50-year Crown Lease of the mine. In 1940, the South China Iron Smelters Co. Ltd. (華南製鐵有限公司) took over the mine. From 1942 to 1944, the mine was operated sporadically by the Japanese who shipped the raw ore to Japan. In 1949, the Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. (大公洋行) took over the mine. In 1953, the Nittetsu Mining Company of Japan (日本鐵礦業株式會社) joined the Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. to operate the mine. In that year the changeover from open-cast to underground mining began.

Exterior wall of 240 ML (1953) By 1953 the deposit was mined with open-cast method, by which the operation began with the removal of the overburden by stripping from the top to the bottom. After the removal of the over-burden, a series of holes were drilled into the ore body with pneumatic drills and then charged with dynamite. Owing to the support of the geologists and mining engineers from the Nittetsu Mining Company of Japan (日本鐵礦業株式會社) which assisted the Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. in its excavating processes, a great change in the methods of mining took place in 1953 when the miners started to extract the underground iron ore, which was not reachable by the old method of open-cast mining. As a result, the output of iron ore was greatly increased. At 240-m level, an adit or tunnel (地下坑道) was driven into the ore body. Approximately 2 metres high and 2 metres wide, the adit was also used as the main haulage way. At right angle to the adit were driven crosscuts which were also 2 metres high and 2 metres wide. An incline was driven upward to connect the 240-m level (the main haulage way) with several layers of adits at 247 m, 254 m, 261 m and 268 m. The incline provided access for equipment and assisted ventilation inside the network of tunnels nicknamed by the miners as tei lung (地龍), literally ‘ground dragons’.

Mineral Preparation Plant (選礦廠) (1954 & 1963) A new era of mining was begun in October 1954, when a fully-mechanized ore-dressing machine (also known in this appraisal as “mineral preparation plant”) was installed to screen out iron from other useless minerals. At the time of its installation in 1954, this plant was situated only about 200 m away from the coastline, before land reclamation took place. The plant was one of the most modern of its kind in Asia at that time. It was

2 installed by the Nittetsu Mining Company of Japan for the Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. on a rental basis. The construction cost of the plant was HK$1 million, while another HK$650,000 was spent on the electricity facilities powering the machine. The ore-dressing plant was operated day and night unceasingly. Its daily requirement of water was 1,360 cubic metres. The water was directed from the hill stream by an open channel to a concrete water tank which supplied water to the plant. After the ore-dressing plant went into service since 1954, a vast quantity of crude ore was turned into high-grade concentrate ore (精礦砂). In 24 hours, it was capable of producing 480 tons of iron concentrates (60 percent) from 500 to 700 tons of raw ore, thus making it more marketable. Thus treated the level of concentration of iron of the ore was raised from 30–40% to 60% or more, thus enhancing the quality of the product before shipment to its destination (Japan). This reduction in bulk means a saving in the cost of freight. In the ore-dressing plant, the raw ore passed through a rather complicated process which involved crushing, iron separation by magnets and filtering, after which the ire was taken by conveyor belt to the stockpile ready for shipment to aboard. In short, the crude ore underwent three processes: crushing, grinding, and desiccating. (1) Crushing Section. At the plant, the raw ore was initially poured into an “Ore Bin” from which it was carried to the Blake Crusher; there the ore was crushed to 75 mm. and was delivered to the Gyratory Crusher from which the output size was below 50 mm. In the Cone Crusher the ore was further crushed to 14 mm. or below, which was the required size of the feed-ore entering the Mill Bin. (2) Grinding Section. From the “Ore Bin” the feed-ore was carried by an Apron Conveyor to the Conical Ball Mill in which the ore was mixed with water and was grinded to fine ore pulp (65 mesh). The fine pulp emerging from the Ball Mill entered the Rake Classifier where the coarser pulp (+ 65 mesh) would be removed back to the Ball Mill to be grinded again. The finer pulp (- 65 mesh) was pushed into three sets of Wet Magnetic Separators where it was separated into “iron concentrates”, “middling” and “tailing”. The tailing was disposed to the sea while the middling was pumped back to the Separators to be concentrated again. The iron concentrates containing about 54 percent iron content were allowed to enter the Dry Magnetic Separators where their iron content was raised to 57 percent. (3) Desiccating Section. The iron concentrates coming from the Magnetic Separators were de-magnetized before they settled at the bottom of a big

3 circulator tank called Thickener. From the Thickener they were directed by a pipe to a Dorrco Filter where they were desiccated. The dry concentrates which still contained 9 percent of water passed through an Automatic Conveyor Scale where they were weighed before they were collected in stockpiles ready for sale to Japan. From the stockpiles, the iron concentrates would be taken away by motor vehicles and then loaded onto the barges which tied up alongside a jetty in Tide Cove (Sha Tin Hoi 沙田海). From the barges the iron concentrates were loaded on to ocean-going ships anchored in Tolo Harbour, and shipped to Japan. The mining authority noticed that the tailing discarded from the ore-dressing plant still contained 10% iron content, so there was an incentive to increase the dressing capacity so as to extract the iron content from the accumulated tailing. In addition, as time went by, given the expanded excavation of raw ore, support from the ore-dressing plant was insufficient. Thus, the establishment of a second dressing plant (第二選礦廠) in 1963. In this separate plant, ore obtained from low-grade dumps was given preliminary treatment (undergoing the processes of crushing, screening and dry magnetic separation) before being passed on to the main plant for final dressing. The second plant (now abandoned) can be accessed through a path ascending the hill slopes at an elevation of 200 metres above sea level. As one walks along the path, one is sure to catch sight of ore waste - some stacking along the side of the path while others upon the slopes of the hills.

Exterior wall of 110 ML (1963) Another step forward in the development of the mine took place in October 1963, when a new adit was built at 110 ML to tap new deposits, at a time when the ore body in the upper levels of the mountain was progressively mined out. The location of the adit was selected at 110 metres above sea level, to facilitate fast delivery of raw ore to the mineral preparation plant only 200 metres from the coast. Vertical shafts (ore passes) were made to connect the adits, so that the ore mined at the higher levels could be rolled to the tunnel at 110 ML. It considerably reduced transportation costs. Previously, the ore had to be transported by vehicles down a winding access road. The Ma On Shan Mine reached its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, when 6,000 miners were employed and in excess of 400,000 tons of ore were extracted annually. The miners came from many different parts of China – e.g. Guangdong (廣東), Anhui (安徽), Henan (河南), Hubei (湖北), Shandong (山東). Some of the residents of Rennie’s Mill (Tiu Keng Leng) (調景嶺) also worked there. However, mining operations were suspended in March 1976 due to high costs and weakening global demand for iron ore. Many of the miners headed out to

4 Kowloon to find alternative work, and the mining lease expired in 1981.

Constructed in 1953, the exterior wall of 240 ML (240 ML 礦洞外牆) is a Architectural concrete structure with a rectangular opening and two large circular openings Merit above to house ventilation fans. The interior of the entrance portal, the start of the tunnel, and another iron gate can be seen. The entrance is partially sealed off with a brick wall, and there is a warning notice in the area erected by the District Lands Office, Sha Tin. Constructed in 1963, the exterior wall of 110 ML (110 ML 礦洞外牆) is recessed into the side of the mountain in a cutting which is faced or revetted on either side by concrete retaining walls about 4 metres high marked with faux joint lines to resemble ashlar masonry. The portal itself is an arched opening in a concrete retaining wall with faux joint lines to represent voussoirs. A coarse rubble wall has been built across the entrance to prevent unauthorized access. Two openings have been left for drainage purpose. In the immediate environs of the portal, there is a former engine room (which was a source of electricity for light control) and an office building (which was set up there to supervise the operation of the portal). To the north of the ground outside the portal, there is a pair of rail tracks measuring 14 m long and 0.7 m wide, onto which the crude ore excavated from the mine was conveyed to the ore-dressing plant for sorting. The original ore-dressing plant (now abandoned) now consists of a series of concrete structures built in steps down the hillside below Ma On Shan Tsuen Road. They were built as engineering structures. The purpose of each structure is also difficult to identify. Some were obviously covered sheds, and some seems to be office and workshops. Other structures are rail pillars for an overhead ore transit railway. The second ore-dressing plant is hidden by thick foliage and much overgrown with dense vegetation that have grown over the structures still lying somewhere on the steep slope, thus making access and inspection very difficult, but it is still possible to identify certain masonry structures. There are many inclines and ore passes interconnecting the various levels of the mine. The derelict adits or tunnels are still accessible through the portal at the 240 m level and through the 110 m portal. Indeed, a 2,200 m long haulage drive was constructed at the 110 m level out to the the exterior wall of 110 ML. This main haulage drive was connected to the workings above by a 300 incline which extended up to the main working levels at 144 m, 192 m and 240 m. Five main ore passes were constructed up to 144 m level. Mechanical chutes at the base of each of these discharged the ore into mine tubs which were hauled by electric locomotives out to the ore-dressing plant. Another 260 incline was constructed from the 144 m level up to the exterior wall of 240 ML.

Ma On Shan Mine is fairly well known internationally at least in geological Rarity, and mining circles. The iron mine operated for 70 years between 1906 and 1976. Built Heritage Iron is everywhere in evidence but the only deposit which so far has attracted a Value major commercial extraction is the lenticular magnetite mass at Ma On Shan. & Authenticity Although Hong Kong’s past as a manufacturing powerhouse is well documented, the light of publicity has shone less brightly on its iron mining industry. The adit at 240 ML is one of the first tunnels excavated in 1953 for underground mining, which reflect the improvement in mining method. The adit at 110 ML was the transportation hub of the raw ore extracted from different mining pits inside the mountain. Thus, the exterior walls of 240 ML and 110 ML are valuable as a testimony to the mining history here judging from the production of the mine. The authenticity is largely preserved. The Mineral Preparation Plant reflects the technical advancement of mining industry in the early post-war times, as well as the collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan. When the mine was closed, the machines were dismantled, leaving only the concrete structures on the site. Besides, the broken concrete slabs exposing the steel bars shows that they might have been deliberately damaged after the machines were dismantled, probably for avoiding illegal occupation afterward. So the ruins’ authenticity has been severely compromised.

Ma On Shan Iron Mine has been the subject of enquiry of several studies, Social Value including school projects, with oral histories from staff who worked there. It has & Local been featured in book chapters, newspaper articles, magazines, etc. The Sha Tin Interest District Council has set up a working group to explore the possibility to develop a theme park of mine. And the Ma On Shan story is told in an exhibition hall of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, therefore it has some extent of social value for Hong Kong as a whole. Although derelict for decades, the mine and its relics are very popular with hikers. There is a lot of wildlife too and rare botanical species. The underground adits are still accessible through the external wall of 110 ML and 240 ML. However, the general public would be advised not to attempt to enter the workings in view of their geological conditions, and more importantly, the problems related to safety; for example, roof collapses have occurred, and even where the roofs were supported, the supports may be rotten or corroded and may be easily dislodged. In addition, there are many deep vertical shafts (ore passes), many of which are not adequately protected. The adits are extending in many directions, three-dimensionally, and where one may easily get lost.

6 All of the machinery in the mine, including ventilation fans and winches, as Group Value well as other items of value, including most of the railway tracks, were removed after mining was suspended in 1976. However, there are many reminders of past mining activity. The exterior walls of 110 ML and 240 ML have group value with the Mineral Preparation Plant (選礦廠), Lutheran Yan Kwong Church (信義會恩光堂) and St. Joseph’s Church (聖若瑟堂建築群).

References Davis, S.G. “Mineralogy of the Ma On Shan Iron Mine, Hong Kong,” in S.G. Davis (ed.) Economic Ecology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1964. Kwan Sai Ho. “An Ecological Survey of Soil and Vegetation Contaminated by the Iron Ore Mining at Ma On Shan, Hong Kong”. Unpublished M.Phil. thesis, CUHK, 1979. Lai Chuen Yan, David. “Ma On Shan Iron Mine”. Unpublished B.A. thesis, Department of Geography and Geology, University of Hong Kong, 1959. Leung Sze Kong. “Ma On Shan”. Unpublished B.A. thesis, Department of Geography and Geology, University of Hong Kong, 1957. Shibata, Taketo. “Development Plan of Ma On Shan Iron Mine, New Territories,” in S.G. Davis (ed.) Economic Ecology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1964. Strangle, P.J. & N.W. Woods, “The Geology and Exploitation of the Ma On Shan Magnetite Deposit,” Geological Society of Hong Kong Newsletter (Hong Kong), Vol. 9, No. 1, 1991. Yang, J.Y. “Iron Ore & Industry in Japan, China and Hongkong,” Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong Kong), Vol. 14, 17 July 1952, pp. 84-88. 《馬鞍山風物誌：礦業興衰》編研小組：《馬鞍山風物誌：礦業興衰》，香港：沙田區議會，2002 年。《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》編研小組：《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》，香港：馬鞍山民康促進會，2012 年。朱晉德，陳式立（合著）：《礦世鉅著：香港礦業史》（Hong Kong Mining History, original English title），香港：朱晉德，陳式立，2015 年。

7 N245 Historic Building Appraisal Site Structures at Mining Settlement, Ma On Shan Iron Mine, Sha Tin, N.T.

The abandoned iron mine is situated on the western slopes of Ma On Historical Shan. Initially opened in 1906, the mine developed on a vast scale since 1949 Interest when a local iron ore mining company known as Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. (大公洋行) undertook the operation. The workforce for the extraction of deposits in the early-post World War II period was chiefly derived from the labourers who had newly arrived as refugees from China. With them, the miners bought their families to live in Ma On Shan. About 3,000 skilled and other labourers were working at the mine in the early 1950s and the mining community, including families, numbered some 4,000 people. After the iron mine ceased operation in 1976, the population in the area decreased with the exodus of miners and their families. Although the mine has been left abandoned for many decades, traces of the mine workings may be found in the area. In addition to the ore-dressing plant and the exterior walls of 240 ML and 110 ML which are explained in another historic building appraisal, there are other reminders of past mining activity. Frankly, they are not great pieces of architecture, but must be considered as important historic evidence of the mining settlement, and as part of the mine they contribute to the overall group value. They are briefly appraised below.

1. Explosives Storerooms (炸藥倉): The two explosives storerooms Architectural (now abandoned) are of the same design. They are rectangular blocks, one Merit storey in height with flat roofs. The walls are built of brickwork which seems to have been coated with grey cement slurry. The windows are barred and have projecting hoods for rain protection. The explosives storeroom lying at the eastern end of the iron mines is flanked by a thick granite rubble wall built in the shape of the English letter “L”. It is believed that it was purposely built in this way so that in the event of an explosion the damaging impact of the blast would be kept to minimum. 2. Compressed Air Generator House (風機房): Just off a footpath, there is a building known in Chinese as 風機房, as the miners called it, installed to keep generators for the production of compressed air required by pneumatic drills - such drills were operated by compressed air and could bore from 60 to 80 feet deep into the rock in one day. This rectangular block is approximately 13 x 13 feet in plan. Its walls are built of brickwork and coated with grey cement slurry. Brick courses and joints can be seen at the broken parts. The roof slabs are projected beyond the face of the external walls to form an overhanging eave for shade and weather protection.

1 3. Security Guard Post (礦場警衛室): The style of the Security Guard Post is much the same as the Compressed Air Generator House. It is a single-storey rectangular block with flat roof, approximately 13 x 13 feet in plan. The walls are built of brick and coated with grey cement slurry featuring a monotonous fair-faced finish. The roof slabs are projected beyond the face of the external walls to form an overhanging eave. This was also the spot where the miners reported for duty by affixing their name-tags on a notice board for recording work attendance, so it was easy to know who were working underground. 4. Water Tanks (儲水池): Close to the Compressed Air Generator House and the exterior walls of 240 ML, there was a water tank being 13 x 26 feet in plan and stands about 7 feet above ground level. Between the two Explosives Storerooms, there is another water tank for fire-fighting purpose. These water tanks were part of a complex of installations erected by the Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. to ensure a sufficient supply of water for industrial use. In mining operations, large quantities of water were required for cooling machinery, dust suppression, cleaning, and fire fighting. 5. Nullah (排水槽): Lying at the lower levels of a steep-sided valley, the nullah is a utilitarian drainage engineering structure that functioned to collect the water running down from the valley as well as underground water, and to channel it via the lower course of the hill stream running to the sea, so as to prevent flooding of the portals and tunnels. The various components which make up the nullah comprise a drain tank and side retaining walls which are built of random rubble granite. Some lengths of the side retaining walls are strengthened with triangular shaped buttresses. 6. Branch Office of Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. (大公洋行分部): The head office of Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. was set up in the coast of Tide Cove (or Shatin Hoi) by the 1950s, but today none of its physical traces can be found as the coast has been redeveloped into Heng On Estate (恆安邨) and Yiu On Estate (耀安邨). In the 1950s, the mining company also set up a branch office to supervise mining operations in the uphill area. Architecturally this branch office block is rectangular in plan, one storey high with gable end walls and a low pitched roof. It has a floor area of 43 square metres. The features on the elevation of the block facing the small road consist of electrical cables and a junction box. The building is locked up so that it is difficult to understand exactly how the office operated. 7. Mechanical Section (機器房): This mechanical section of the mining company provided routine maintenance and repair of instruments used in the excavation of deposits. Such instruments included, for instance, pneumatic drills (which could bore from 60 to 80 feet deep into the rock in one day) as well as generators for the production of compressed air required by pneumatic

2 drills. This workshop is a low-pitched structure with rectangular ventilation openings and a lean-to annex built on to the north corner. The pitched roofs are finished with corrugated metal sheeting. The walls are lime-washed. Rubble stones mixed with concrete can be seen at the broken parts of the walls. The whole site has a very untidy and dilapidated appearance with building materials and all kinds of discarded rubbish stacked around it. 8. Technical Staff Dormitory (技工宿舍): Near the electric machine room, there is a two-storey, flat-roof block constructed by the mining authority to provide dormitory for the technical staff of the company. The block is built beside the hillside on a NE axis and it has a floor area of 38 square metres. It is a rectangular structure two stories high built of concrete. An external staircase on the east elevation gives access to the upper floor. The walls are built of brickwork and coated with grey cement slurry. Window openings have been formed at ground floor level and first floor level, all with concrete lintels which project to form sheltering hoods or canopies. Internally the rooms have plastered and painted walls and ceilings. 9. Clinic (診所): The miners were equipped with helmets, but accidents often arose from the use of explosives, the handling of tools and machinery, landslides, rock-falls, etc. There was no hospital in the mining settlement but Mutual Trust Co. Ltd. has established a clinic with two medical doctors, Dr Leung and Dr Tam, who attended to occasional emergency cases. Access to the clinic (which comprises a main house and an outhouse which was kitchen) is via a footpath leading up from a road. Internally, rooms for files cabinet, sleeping space and toilet can be seen. Apart from attending emergency cases, the clinic also provided treatment to the miners’ families. 10. Canteen-cum-Granary (飯堂及糧倉): Even though the pay at the mine was not very high (the wage for each miner was something like 6 or 7 dollars daily in 1957), the mining company did offer benefits for its staff. It was here that the miners had lunch for free, provided by the company. The structure comprises 3 one-storey blocks joined together as a row, measuring 225 square metres. It has walls of brickwork or masonry which have been rendered and painted. A series of window openings allowed breezes to blow across the premises. The windows are spaced at regular intervals with projecting concrete hoods for rain protection. Gate piers built of stones can be seen on both sides of the fenced entrance. The doorways are on the south-west side of the blocks facing a courtyard paved with tiles, where pay in the form of rice rations was dosed out to the miners, as we are informed by the miners’ families there. 11. Tablet of Ping On Bridge (平安橋碑): The subject item is adjoined to a stream. It is the tablet with the name of a bridge in Chinese characters, “平安橋” (literally, “Bridge of Safety”). The concrete bridge spanning across

3 the stream was constructed in the 1960s by the mining authority to facilitate the physical movement of the dwellers in the area. It had been a wooden structure prior to reconstruction into a concrete structure. In recent times, the concrete bridge has been rebuilt, but the tablet remains as a tangible reminder of the story of a Hong Kong enterprise. 12. Footbridge (行人橋): This Footbridge is about six metres long, one metre wide, and two metres above the river bed. It spans across a strong stream that runs through the mining settlement in a valley and, although the stream carries a small amount of water in normal times, it is subject to very rapid flooding in rainy days. The Footbridge was constructed in 1963 for the convenience of residents to cross from one side of the stream to the other, so as to allow easier access to St. Joseph’s Church (聖若瑟堂). Its construction was funded by donations given by the Catholic Women’s League, Hong Kong (香港公教婦女聯誼會). 13. Shun Yee San Tsuen (信義新村): Located at the terraced slopes at the foothills of Ma On Shan, Shun Yee San Tsuen (literally, “Lutheran New Village”) is a group of miners’ home units built in the 1960s as a result of the Lutheran missionaries’ aid to rehouse some miners’ families who had been made homeless by heavy rainstorms. When completed in September 1961, Shun Yee San Tsuen comprised eight rectangular blocks subdivided into 16 home units. The housing and toilet blocks are built of masonry and seem to be coated with cement slurry featuring painted finish. Pitched roofs supported on timber trusses are also features of the home units.

The subject built structures are functional with minimal decorations and Rarity, ornamentation, but they are considered just as significant as the other Ma On Built Heritage Shan iron mine relics such as the exterior walls of adits and they are valuable Value & as a testimony to the mining history here judging from the production of the Authenticity mine. The mining settlement is of great interest to historians being a superb example of an iron mine probably unique to this part of the world. Ma On Shan Iron Mine is fairly well known internationally at least in geological and mining circles. Iron is everywhere in evidence in Hong Kong but the only deposit which so far has attracted a major commercial extraction is the lenticular magnetite mass here. The remnants and structures themselves and the surroundings are maintained in a satisfactory state and the site still retains its authentic appearance.

Ma On Shan Iron Mine has been the subject of enquiry of several Social Value studies, including school projects, with oral histories from staff who worked & Local there. It has been featured in book chapters, newspaper articles, magazines, Interest etc. The Sha Tin District Council has set up a working group to explore the

4 possibility to develop a theme park of mine. And the Ma On Shan story is told in an exhibition of the New Territories Heritage Hall of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, therefore it has some extent of social value for Hong Kong as a whole. Although derelict for decades, the mine and its relics are very popular with hikers and people interested in local and industrial history. There is a lot of wildlife too and rare botanical species. It is also worthy of note that one of the Security Guard Post was used as a set in the 2009 movie, Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms! (機動部隊 - 同袍).

The subject remnants and structures are within walking distance of the Group Value ore-dressing plant, the exterior walls of 240 ML and 110 ML, and the church buildings which were places of worship of the miners and their families. Their preservation may help to provide a walking trail to link up with other places of historic interest in the area, affording visitors a journey back into the past.

5 N102 Historic Building Appraisal Lutheran Yan Kwong Church, Ma On Shan Tsuen Road, Sha Tin, N.T.

For decades, the mountain village in Ma On Shan was catered to by two Historical churches – one Catholic church whilst the other a Lutheran church, which Interest offered food and supplies to the miners and their families. The five-building complex included a church, a primary school, a kindergarten, quarters, and a store, known collectively as Lutheran Yan Kwong Church (信義會恩光堂). Lutheran Yan Kwong Church was inaugurated on 22 June 1952, even earlier than the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong (香港基督教信義會) on 27 February 1954. The Ma On Shan Iron Mine, opened in 1906, developed on a vast scale shortly after the Second World War. At the time, the refugees who flooded in from all over China provided workforce for the extraction of deposits. Also, a great change in the methods of iron ore mining took place in Ma On Shan in 1953, when underground mining was resorted to. These led to great increases in the output of iron ore. Consequently, the small village of Ma On Shan Tsuen was swamped with new arrivals, nearly all of them came from China. With them, the miners bought their families to live in the area. In 1950 a number of Lutheran pastors arrived at the Ma On Shan Iron Mine where they set up the Lutheran Yan Kwong congregation in September that year. For a long time, the parcels of food, clothing and medicine given by the Church were of great help to the miners, whose salaries could barely support their families. The Lutheran as well as the Catholic churches were a place where the miners and their family members listened to the sermon. Occasionally, they had film-shows provided by the two churches, which also provided free education to their children. For economic reasons the mine ceased operation as from 1976. The population of the village decreased with the departure of the miners and their families since then. In 1976 the primary school and kindergarten were closed. Next year, the old school premises were turned into Lutheran Grace Youth Camp (恩青營). Lutheran Primary School (信義恩光小學) was relocated to Heng On Estate (恆安邨) and was renamed Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School (馬鞍山信義學校) in 1987.

The entrance to the church compound is a simple gateway at the top of Architectural some steps consisting of two piers supporting a lintel and triangular pediment Merit surmounted by a plain Latin cross. The gateway is rendered and painted with the Chinese characters “恩光堂” on the lintel. The gate is made of wire mesh and steel framing.

1 The church is a simple one storey utilitarian building with white painted walls, a pitched roof of corrugated asbestos sheeting, and metal framed windows. The main part of the church is rectangular in plan with extra rooms built on to the sides as lean-to extensions. Architectural features include the shaped gable ends, a few pointed lancet windows, and a bell cote surmounted by a simple Latin cross at the apex of the north-east end. The Chinese characters “信義會禮拜堂” are painted on the gable and above the entrance door. Internally the main part of the church is open plan, with no division or separation between the nave (where the congregation sat during services) and the chancel where the altar is normally placed. Instead of the normal altar there is decorated pedestal table on which is placed a Calvary cross. The pedestal table is situated on raised semi-circular dais railed off by an ornamental wooden balustrade. On the wall behind there is a painted mural of Jesus the Good Shepherd holding a lamb and shepherd’s crook. The underside (soffit) of the roof is exposed showing green-painted wooden purlins and trusses. The roof of the side extension has steel lattice trusses. The floor is screeded. Furnishings include wooden pews, chairs, tables, cupboards, electrical installations, ceiling fans and fluorescent strip lighting. The walls are plastered and painted white. The windows in the side room are decorated with ornamental transparent film. This room contains a small shrine littered with religious paraphernalia

Lutheran Yan Kwong Church is a special piece of built heritage in Ma Rarity, On Shan Mine with considerable historic interest. The Church was completely Built Heritage abandoned in 2003 after landslides made the buildings too dangerous to Value & occupy. With earthworks complete, the Church now hopes to revitalize the Authenticity building. The building itself and the surroundings are currently maintained in a satisfactory state and the site still retains its authentic appearance.

Lutheran Yan Kwong Church was another centre of religion, education Social Value and social activities of Ma On Shan villagers for decades, besides the Roman & Local Catholic St. Joseph’s Church. Their lives got improved because of the Interest Lutheran pastors. Therefore the building has a high local interest. Recently, there is a plan to revitalize the Church buildings and convert them into a daytime activity centre to publicize the history of the mine and the life stories of the mining families. Lutheran Yan Kwong Church gave rise to close-knit community high in the hills of Ma On Shan and the mining industry produced more than just iron ore; it forged lifelong friendships among the workers. On Sunday, 4 May 2014, some 60 residents of the former mining village gathered for a reunion

2 in their old village church.

Lutheran Yan Kwong Church has group values with other old structures Group Value related to the Ma On Shan Mine, such as the St. Joseph’s Church (天主堂(聖若瑟堂)建築群), Exterior wall of Mines 110 ML and 240 ML (110ML 及 240ML 礦洞外牆), and mineral preparation plant (選礦廠). Due to its unique value, the site has potential to be developed as a cultural and eco-tourism destination include visiting the abandoned iron mine, viewing geology, rocks and minerals in the area, and villages, churches and schools.

References Kao, Ernest. “Village Shines a Light on HK’s Forgotten Mining Past,” South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), 5 May 2014. Mak Mak：「蛻變礦山歲月，傳承堅毅精神」，《信念》（香港），30 期，2014 年 4 月，頁 6-8。鄭靜珊：「香港歷史缺失的一章：馬鞍山礦場遺址，為礦工故事留痕」，《明報週刊》（香港）2139 期，2009 年 11 月 7 日，頁 90-91。邵超：「活化，留住礦山歲月」，《蘋果日報》（香港），2013 年 12 月 30 日。《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》編研小組：《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》，香港：馬鞍山民康促進會，2012 年。聖公會陳融中學（眾師生）：「馬鞍山採礦業今昔」，載《歷史追索與方法探求》，鄭德華編著，香港三聯書店，1999 年，頁 232-288。

3 N103 Historic Building Appraisal St. Joseph’s Church Ma On Shan Tsuen Road, Sha Tin, N.T.

For decades, the mountain village in Ma On Shan was catered to by two Historical churches – one Catholic church whilst the other a Lutheran church, which Interest offered food and supplies to the miners and their families. St. Joseph’s Church (聖若瑟堂) was built in 1952 with the advice of a Belgian father, Eleutherius Van Hoye (胡文義神父) who could speak Mandarin and some other languages. Expelled from China (Hubei province) the previous year, Fr. Van Hoye kept serving in Ma On Shan where groups of refugees from China found work, in an iron mine. St. Joseph’s Church is a component of a Catholic building complex established in the 1950s, including a church, a school, a clinic and a convent standing on the top of a small hill. The Ma On Shan Iron Mine, opened in 1906, developed on a vast scale shortly after the Second World War when the refugees who flooded in from all over China provided workforce for the extraction of deposits. Also, a great change in the methods of iron ore mining took place in Ma On Shan in 1953, when underground mining was resorted to. These led to great increases in the output of iron ore. Consequently, the small village of Ma On Shan Tsuen was swamped with new arrivals, nearly all of them came from China. With them, the miners bought their families to live in the area. At the inauguration of St. Joseph’s Church on 25 April 1952, the Catholic community numbered scarcely a dozen. Within just six years, the number of Catholic has risen to 800. Every Sunday, the Church was filled to capacity and an evening service was introduced for those who could not attend the morning mass. With the help of sisters of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (瑪利亞方濟各傳教修會), St. Joseph’s Primary School (聖若瑟小學校) was set up adjacent to the church, followed later by a convent (修道院) built next to the school playground, a kindergarten and a small clinic. The church was promoted into a parish in 1955. From the Catholic as well as the Lutheran churches, the miners often obtained relief food or clothing which was of great help to them, who had to eke out their living and provide the main source of income for their families. The churches were places where they listened to the sermon. Occasionally, they had film-shows provided by the churches. The churches also provided free education to their children. For economic reasons the mine ceased operation as from 1976. The population of the village decreased with the departure of the miners and their families since then. The Sunday mass in St. Joseph’s Church ceased in 1999, and the church complex became vacant.

1 The entrance to the church compound is situated at the top of a flight of Architectural steps leading up from the village. The entrance is built of two granite rubble Merit piers supporting a curved pediment inscribed “天主堂” surmounted by a bottony cross, that is a cross with the ends of the arms shaped like trefoils. The gate is a simple metal gate of wire mesh and steel framing. The church itself is a simple single-storey pitched roof building built of rendered mud walls strengthened at intervals by buttresses or piers (actually protruding portal frames). The pointed metal framed lancet windows are protected from the weather by hood mouldings. The main entrance is at the south-east end of the church and consists of a pair of wooden glazed and paneled doors with fanlight protected by an enclosed porch. The Chinese characters “天主堂” are inscribed over the doorway. Another bottony cross is placed at the apex of the south-east gable wall. Internally, the church has a T-shaped plan consisting of a nave, a chancel, small rooms on either side, with arched openings in the dividing walls. At the south-east end of the nave there is an organ-loft reached by a simple staircase with ornamental ironwork balustrading. The underside of the corrugated sheet roof is exposed showing the purlins and portal frames. The walls are plastered and painted, with a chequered tiled dado at the north-west end. The floor is screeded. Furnishings consist of wooden pews, wooden stands and shelves, ceiling fans, and a simple altar on a raised dais at the north-west end. Dampness has caused partial collapse of internal walls. The other buildings in the compound comprising the priest’s house, primary school, latrines and convent are simple one-storey buildings with pitched or flat roofs, plastered walls some with granite rubble plinths, tiled floors, open verandahs, metal windows, and metal and wooden doors. Decorative features include a shrine to the Virgin Mary, a stair-shaped mosaic plaque of the Madonna and Child over the school office entrance, and a carved name plaque over the school entrance.

Although incomparable with other Roman Catholic churches at urban Rarity, area in Hong Kong, St. Joseph’s Church is a rare piece of built heritage with Built Heritage considerable historic interest in former Ma On Shan Mine, partly because it Value & occupies an eye-catching location of a hill top at the village and partly Authenticity because other residential houses are only small and short squatter area. The building itself and the surroundings are maintained in a satisfactory state and the site still retains its authentic appearance.

For a long time, materials and goods distributed by the Catholic were of Social Value great help to the miners, many of them become Catholics converts. During & Local end-1940s and early 1950s, the majority of miners and their families were Interest

2 from mainland China and seldom made contact with local people outside. St. Joseph’s Church therefore played an important role as the centre of religion, education and social activities of Ma On Shan villagers for decades. Their lives got improved because of the missionaries. Therefore the building has a high local interest. The eye-catching splendour of the church also makes itself a choice for location filming for film production. Several scenes of the film Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (機動部隊—同袍) (2009) directed by Law Wing-cheong were shot at the church. Such films make Hong Kong people more familiar with the building.

St. Joseph’s Primary School, the small clinic and the convent built within Group Value the same period of time were annexed to St. Joseph’s Church and formed a catholic church complex. Also this complex has group value with several historic buildings inside the mine, such as Lutheran Yan Kwong Church (信義會恩光堂), mineral preparation plant (選礦廠), and the Exterior wall of Mines 110 ML and 240 ML (110ML 及 240ML 礦洞外牆). Due to its unique historical value, the site was proposed to be developed as a a cultural and eco-tourism destination include visiting the abandoned iron mine, viewing geology, rocks and minerals in the area, and villages, churches and schools.

References 天主教香港教區：「主禮嘉賓教友雲集：同為新堂動土祈福，強化團體建設社區」，《公教報》（香港），1994 年 3 月 25 日。連燕玲：「半世紀奔波助老礦工爭權益：張渤老師遺愛馬鞍山村」，《明報》（香港）， 2001 年 5 月 19 日。鄭靜珊：「香港歷史缺失的一章：馬鞍山礦場遺址，為礦工故事留痕」，《明報週刊》（香港）2139 期，2009 年 11 月 7 日，頁 90-91。《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》編研小組：《馬鞍山風物誌：鞍山歲月，小城今昔》，香港：馬鞍山民康促進會，2012 年。聖公會陳融中學（眾師生）：「馬鞍山採礦業今昔」，載《歷史追索與方法探求》，鄭德華編著，香港三聯書店，1999 年，頁 232-288。