Pak Sha O

Entrance Hall of Ho Residence in Pak Sha O.
Watchtower Ho Residence in Pak Sha O.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel.
Pak Sha O Youth Hostel.

Pak Sha O (Chinese: 白沙澳) is an area and a village of Sai Kung North, in Tai Po District, Hong Kong.

Administration

Pak Sha O and Pak Sha O Ha Yeung (白沙澳下洋) are recognized villages under the New Territories Small House Policy.[1]

History

It has been reported that the villages of Sham Chung, Lai Chi Chong and Pak Sha O had historically close social ties.[2]

At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Pak Sha O was 117. The number of males was 52.[3]

Chapel

Pak Sha O is the site of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel (聖母無玷之心小堂). A first chapel was built in Pak Sha O in 1880 on another site.[4] The conversion of Pak Sha O into a Catholic village partly resulted from the desire of the villagers to combat the harassment of the tax-lords of Sheung Shui. The current chapel was built between 1915 and 1923. The site is now used as a training campsite by the Catholic Scout Guild.[5]

Other features

  • Several buildings of the former Ho Residence and the Ho Ancestral Hall, as well as the King Siu Sai Kui and Hau Fuk Mun in Pak Sha O are Grade I historic buildings.
  • Pak Sha O Youth Hostel (白沙澳青年旅舍)
  • King Siu Sai Kui and Hau Fuk Mun in nearby Pak Sha O Ha Yeung (白沙澳下洋) are Grade I historic buildings.

References

  1. ^ "List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy" (PDF). Lands Department. September 2009.
  2. ^ Faure, David (1982). "Saikung, The Making of the District and its Experience during World War II". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 23: 207. ISSN 1991-7295.
  3. ^ Hase, Patrick (1996). "Traditional Life in the New Territories: The Evidence of the 1911 and 1921 Censuses" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 36: 80. ISSN 1991-7295.
  4. ^ Heaver, Stuart (27 February 2016). "The abandoned churches of Sai Kung: how Italian missionaries established Hakka congregations in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post.
  5. ^ Historic Building Appraisal: Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Pak Sha O

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pak Sha O.

22°26′56″N 114°19′10″E / 22.4489°N 114.31955°E / 22.4489; 114.31955