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Sha Tin, 1942

Sha Tin, 1942

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!"#$%&' Landscape of , 1942

NST !"#$%&'()*+,- Construction in progress: Sha Tin Water Treatment Works in 1962

Section 2

Sha Tin Chapter 2

ituated behind the forceful , Sha Tin turned slowly from S a small village with beautiful scenery into the most modernized satellite along the -Canton Railway. As early as 1931, when electric cables passed through Tunnel and reached the , the first stop was Sha Tin. This small village did not have a market place before 1956. The prosperous places were and the area around the old Sha Tin Railway Station. In the beginning, the developing Sha Tin market town was called “Sha Tin New City” with only five streets. There was an electricity supply in the town and hence everything became more convenient. As for the other rural places, people could only use kerosene lamps for illumination.

NSU

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!"#$%&'()*+,- Reclamation work at Sha Tin in the 1970s

NSV !"#$%&'()*+,-./012 Construction in progress: Campus of the Chinese University of in the early 1960s r. Chan Kam Chiu of the Sha Tin Industries and Commerce

Section 2 MAssociation Ltd. remembers the old days without electricity. There were few streetlamps and the streets were very dark. Kerosene lamps were used indoors, but the light was dim and it was easy to cause fire. In the early days, shops were all in the

Chapter 2 old town. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery was built on the hill behind. This was the most famous monastery in the region. Roads were constructed along the old market, linking Temple and Tai Wai. Later small industries were founded in Tai Wai. Two famous hotels were also built beside the road that linked Sha Tin and Kowloon—the Sha Tin Hotel and Carlton Hotel. As Sha Tin developed towards , there were significant locations—Dairy Farm, Chung Chi College and Yucca de Lac. Accompanying all these developments is the popularization of electricity supply which started in the 1950s.

NTM

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!"#$%&&'(= !"#$ CLP’s “electricar” with the Sha Tin Floating Restaurant in the background, 1972

NTN !"#$%&' The bright lights of ne of Sha Tin’s characteristics is the River. Mr.

Section 2 O Kam Sheung Ching of Sha Tin Rural Committee describes the early condition of this river: Linked to , the areas from to Tai Wai were all farmlands. In the position of the present-day Regal Riverside Hotel there

was a fish pool. In 1962, during Typhoon Chapter 2 Wanda, the pool was destroyed and the fish inside were washed out to sea. During this time another characteristic enterprise emerged on the shore of the . It was a wooden boat designed as a classic Chinese boat which turned into a floating Chinese seafood restaurant. This boat was at first situated opposite Ho Tung Lau in Fo Tan. Later it moved to a place near the Sha Tin old town. With the changes to Sha Tin, the boat also changed its location.

The 1970s was the turning point in Sha Tin’s development. The government decided to fully develop Sha Tin into a satellite town. The old town was reconstructed. Factories were moved to Fo Tan’s new industrial area. The government also built the large, modern, Lek Yuen Estate. This was not only the first public estate in Sha Tin but also became a model for later community developments. The estate had a population of over 10,000. There was a community hall, shopping mall, supermarkets, restaurants, schools and also a police station. This was really a well-equipped small community. In the establishment of this new community, electricity supply of course played an indispensable role.

NTO

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!"#$ The famous Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin

NTP a On Shan, a region neighbouring Sha Tin, had

Section 2 M a slower development. It consisted mainly of farmlands. The region also had a long-time iron mine. Mr. Wu Kwai Choi worked as a miner in the past. He recalls how in those early times few people lived there and there was no

Chapter 2 electricity supply. People mainly used kerosene lamps and gas lamps for illumination. By 1975, CLP began the supply of electricity to . Since then, during the 1970s Ma On Shan developed in conjunction with the development plan for Sha Tin new town. A large private housing estate emerged— Sha Tin. This estate helps link Ma On Shan and Sha Tin, and hence exhibits the new face of Sha Tin.

 !" !"#$%&'()*+,-. Viewing from : Sha Tin was already well-developed in the early 1980s

NTQ

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!"#$%&'( !"#$%&' The changing face of Sha Tin—from a CLP poster in 1984

NTR his new face revealed the lively and energetic feel to Sha Tin.

Section 2 T The ceremonial lamps along Shing Mun River cover the district with a brillant sheen of light. In the late 1970s, ceremonial lamps and decorations for Christmas and New Year were introduced. In the early 1980s, residents of Sha Tin cooperated with

Chapter 2 the government to beautify the Shing Mun River area.

Mr. Yeung Cheung Li of the 2000/2001 Planning Committee on Festive Lighting in Sha Tin appreciates this festival very much. Starting from 1983 the festival brings a strong sense of festivity to Sha Tin’s residents. Whether it is Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be different scenes. The lamps and decorations also evolved from being only light bulbs in the past to the present day colour lamps with a complex structure of beautiful and cubic designs. These are all changes brought about by the improvement in electricity supply. The success of the festival not only increases residents’ sense of pride, but also helps harmonize the community. From a commercial point of view, the whole community has become more prosperous. The bright atmosphere increases people’s willingness to consume and is also beneficial to the development of tourism. Quietly !"#$%&'()*+,-./0 !"# !"#$%& supporting the development of this new Sha Tin New Town is one of the most densely populated areas in Hong Kong; it changed from a village into a modern new town town is the precise and stable power supply planned by CLP.

NTS

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