Sai Kung Market in the 1960S
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!"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'(#) !"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+$,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-.& !" #$% &'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-., !"#$!%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'$()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&' !"#$%&' Sai Kung Market in the 1960s NTT Section 2 Sai Kung Chapter 2 eautiful and zigzag shorelines, Agriculture and fishing were the two major beaches and islands are all part industries and economic supports of Sai B of the picture. It is like entering a Kung. Most of its inhabitants had been dreamland. Sai Kung is just such a charming fishermen for four or five generations. Mr. place in Hong Kong. In comparison with the Ng Si Fuk of the Sai Kung District Council Southern District, Sai Kung has a more feels deeply about the lives of the Sai Kung rural sense to it. fishermen. In the 1950s and 1960s, people at Leung Suen Wan, Kau Sai, Hang Hau, Bo Toi O and Pak Sha Wan were mostly fishermen. They mainly worked in the Ninepin Group regions. Their catch was then carried to Sai Kung, Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok, Aberdeen and Castle Peak for sale. The cheap, poor quality fish were brought to Yuen Long for the manufacture of forage. In those years Sai Kung people chiefly used gas lamps and kerosene lamps as illumination. They were hardly affected by electricity. Mr. Ng lived on a boat for over 10 years. At night time they only used lamps for lighting and he did his homework under these lights. !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123*45 Dragon Boat races have had a long history in Sai Kung and its crews have won many prizes NTU !"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'() !"#$%&'()*+,-" !"#$%&'()*+,-'. !"#$%&'()*+ ,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()"*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+#,-. !"#$%&'()!*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%& !"#$% p~á=hìåÖI=NVSQ !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'( )*+,%- !"#$ %&'( $)#$ !"#$%&'()*#+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-(. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%& !"#$%&'()*+,-%. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%& '()*+,- !"#$%& Village scene at Bo Toi O, Hang Hau NTV ang Hau village in Sai Kung has In August 1951, Mr. Lee Shiu Yam of the also many fishermen living Sai Kung Commercial Association went to Section 2 Hthere. Mr. Shing Hon Keung of the New Territories Regional Office and to Hang Hau Rural Committee has been there the CLP to apply for electricity supply. CLP since childhood. He witnessed its promised to supply electricity to the Sai development from a fishing port into a little Kung Market. This helped improve rural community. In the past there was a small people’s lives. Moreover, CLP installed market in the fishing port. The rural people street lamps to facilitate nighttime activities. Chapter 2 surrounding could come to buy and sell At that time the electric bulbs used were things. They exchanged fish, shrimp and only 5 W and the light was orange-yellow in crab from fishermen for sugar cane and colour. Among the early popular electrical vegetables. Before the electricity supply appliances were electric fans. Later, reached the region, there were Chinese television sets, radios and refrigerators opera shows for four days and five nights became popular, as people’s relatives in the every year during the Tin Hau (Goddess of UK sent back money. Heaven) celebrations. Children used burning bamboo sticks as torches. In the early 1960s, with the coming of electricity, In the beginning, when electricity was factories started to be built in the region. supplied, rural people found it very strange For instance, there were China Shipyard, and thought it would cause wood to catch Wheelock Shipyard and shipyards opened fire. The inhabitants in the Sai Kung town by American merchants. This provided job centre would gather together and listen to opportunities for many rural people. radio broadcasts. Fishermen also gathered in fishing shops to listen to the weather forecasts. ! !"# !"#$ News report on power supply of Sai Kung Market, Wah Kiu Yat Po, 1951 NUM !"#$%&'( !"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'()* !"#$%&'()*+,-) !"#$%&'(!)*+,- !" #$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'() !"#$%& '()*+,-! !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&' !"#$%&'(&)*+,- Power supply to Leung Suen Wan, 1981 !"#$%&''(")*+, !"#$%&'()*+,-*. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&'()'*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()%*+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,-. !"#$%&' ()*+,-. !"#$%&'()*(+,-. !"#$%&'()*+,-./ !"#$%&'()*+,- !"#$%&'()*+',-. !"#$%&'( !" !"#$%& “Rural Team” laying cables at Leung Suen Wan NUN !"#$%&'() Power supply to Tai Tsung Hau Chuen, Sai Kung, 1966 ural life in Sai Kung was similar In those days electricity was quite expensive. to that of other districts. Mr. Lo First, one had to pay the installation fee. Section 2 RSuk Ching of the New Territories Then CLP officers estimated the number of Association of Organizations remembers posts needed and calculated the how in the past, Pak Kong Village, where construction fee. By 1967, electrical he was living, was still rural. People there appliances other than electric lamps (such were chiefly farmers. Daily lives were very as television sets) emerged. This became the simple. Work in the daytime and rest at chief means of entertainment. The supply Chapter 2 night. In wintertime dinner began at 4 pm, of electricity also helped with gardening. and people went to sleep at about 6 pm or 7 For example, lamps could be used to warm pm. They got up every morning at 4 am or 5 flowers and make them open up more am to work or to harvest vegetables. Then beautifully. they carried the vegetables to the market for sale. Sai Kung district has a large area of Country Park and is a favourite haunt for Hong Kong The situation of the old market place is in tourists. The electricity supply is one of the the area around the present day Sai Kung most important features of the Country Park pier. It was very busy in the daytime and since it is large in size. The management people enjoyed drinking tea and shopping team has to reach different parts of the park for daily appliances. Not until around 1951 along roads and tourists must be able to walk did the market receive a supply of electricity. to different regions via roads. With the Yet there were often supply failures, installation of electric lamps, the use of the especially during typhoons and rainy days. park became more common. Electricity was Sometimes the electricity supply would be especially important to tourists who wanted cut for one or two days. to camp or barbecue. !"#$% Using electricity to grow flowers NUO.