Village given a new lease of life
A multidisciplinary education and research base pioneered by CUHK academics has newly opened in the border area of Sha Tau Kok to revive a forsaken Hakka village of over 300 years of history.
Nestled in a valley facing Starling Inlet, Kuk Po is a Hakka village with a rich history, natural and cultural heritages. The exodus of villagers from 1960s onwards has left much of the village in ruins. Receiving a HK$3 million fund from Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme in late 2021, a multidisciplinary research team led by Professor Thomas Chung of School of Architecture set about revitalising the village through education and research.
Located in Ng To, Kuk Po, the CUHK Multi-disciplinary Education Research Base marked a milestone for the project. The first of its kind among local universities, the countryside conservation and research centre was made possible through architectural restoration of the village house by the core research team, support from local villagers, and multifaceted studies of the village by researchers of architecture, anthropology, life sciences, and geography and resource management.
Opened on 5 February, where the Lantern Festival took place, the multidisciplinary base saw over 150 returning villagers and guests. All enjoyed the hearty and delectable traditional Hakka dishes prepared by villagers delighted to see their old home rejuvenated.
An exhibition is now on in the centre, showcasing the wonderfully rich history, culture, architecture, landscape and ecology of Kuk Po. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays till end of May. Villagers trained by the research team will be docents, guiding visitors through the exhibition and sharing their stories on living in Kuk Po.
Way forward, the team will run guided tours led by villagers, handicraft workshops and experiential learning programmes for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Participation will be emphasised, where visitors may be asked to reinvent landscapes or reflect on their well-being among other initiatives, to inspire love and a sense of ownership to Hong Kong’s endearing countryside.
