Sam Mun Tsai…Plover Cove Reservoir

HF: Fishing has long been an important industry in Hong Kong, and therefore is worthy of inclusion on our website both when active and when in decline. This article is an example of the latter.

Sam Mun Tsai is an area and a village in Yim Tin Tsai, Tai Po District, Hong Kong.

Sam Mun Tsai is one of the villages represented within the Tai Po Rural Committee. For electoral purposes Sam Mun Tsai is part of the Shuen Wan constituency, which was formerly represented by So Tat-leung until October 2021. Sam Mun Tsai New Village or Sam Mun Tsai San Tsuen is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy.

The fishermen now residing in Sam Mun Tsai New Village used to live on boats at the original Sam Mun Tsai, close to Tai Kau of Luk Heung, now at the north eastern shore of Plover Cove Reservoir. They were relocated to their current residence in 1966, as a result of the construction of The Plover Cove Reservoir. At the time 36 families were moved to housing on land. Extensive renovation work was conducted at the Sam Mun Tsai Fishermen’s Village in 2006-2007.(1)

[The original Sam Mun Tsai] was located at the current site of Plover Cove Reservoir and Pak Sha Tau Chau, residents made a living by farming and fishing, they lived in houses built of stone and wood, and some of them lived on boats.

In 1965, seven villages had to be relocated to make way for the Plover Cove Reservoir Project. Six of them (Luk Heung) were compensated by the Government with apartments of around 700 sq. ft per unit along Tai Po Market Luk Heng Lane and Kwong Fuk Road. However, Sam Mun Tsai villagers were excluded from the compensation scheme.

Mr Shek [village head of the ”new” Sam Mun Tsai village], recalled that the representative of Sam Mun Tsai had to find a suitable location on his own. After visiting the vicinity of current Industrial Estate, Cheung Shue Tan and Nam Han, it was finally decided to settle at Yam Tin Tsai. 36 families were moved to congest a two-storey government-built building with space of less than 300 sq. ft. per unit.

There was no running water, electricity, or toilet at the beginning. Living space was cramped. Family members had to sleep in the corridor or on boats. The typhoon shelter was full when there was a typhoon. Vessels that came late had to stay outside the shelter.

Fishing yield was or fest declining in the 1970s and 1980s, which drove some fishermen away to work on construction sites. It was also the time when mariculture was rapidly developed at Sam Mun Tsai.

Today, many young villagers have moved to work in the city. Sam Mun Tsai is lively only during holidays or festivals. The recent establishment of Geopark attracts many tourists to the village.

Sources:

1. Wikipedia

This artIcle was first posted on 12th November 2024.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Plover Cove Reservoir – photographs of official opening 1969
2. Plover Cove Reservoir – 50th anniversary of relocation of residents from Sam Mun Tsai
3. Plover Cove Reservoir – 1977 Water Supplies Dept report