The founding ancestors of Kop Tong, the Fan’s clan, migrated from Longgang (龍崗) during the Qing Dynasty in the late Qianlong era (清乾隆末年). One of the seven villages of the “Hing Chun Alliance” (慶春約), Kop Tong had around fifteen households with over a hundred residents in the 1950s. Most villagers raised pigs, cultivated fields and managed orchards for a living. Villagers commuted mainly on foot, relying on an ancient path to Kuk Po (谷埔), and then to Sha Tou Kok (沙頭角) market, while students attended school in Lai Chi Wo (荔枝窩). In search of a better livelihood, villagers gradually moved away from Kop Tong, either to urban areas or overseas to the United Kingdom and Ireland. By 1976, with the absence of long-term inhabitants, Kop Tong’s water and electricity supplies were cut.
Village Revitalization
No longer able to bear the sight of their deteriorated homeland, from the 1990s to the 2000s, villagers pooled in money to repair their ancestral hall and clear obstructing trees. A decade ago, some indigenous villagers returned and resided in the village for a few days each week. At first, without other modes of transportation, they had to hike to the urban areas for groceries. These villagers were later granted permission to use the garbage boat of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Over the course of three years, more than a hundred pounds of cement were transported to Kop Tong to rebuild ancestral houses, terrace fields and fruit orchards. In 2019, electricity was finally resumed by the CLP (中電). Today, Kop Tong houses one family with their cats and dogs. Their traditional farmhouse dishes and pastries attract many visitors.
(Source: Adapted and translated from Hong Kong Commercial Daily “中電鋪5公里地底電纜 斷電40年「重見光明」” https://bit.ly/3K1Gmii)
Environment
Kop Tong is located halfway up the northern side of Tiu Tang Lung Peak (吊燈籠峰), offering an open and unobstructed view of Kat O (吉澳) and Shenzhen Yantian Container Terminal (深圳鹽田貨櫃碼頭). The terrain of Kop Tong is rougher than that of its neighbour, Mui Tsz Lam (梅子林). In the 1970s, Kop Tong was frequented by hiking tours for its good reputation. Surrounded by woodlands, streams and valleys, the village was praised for its tranquility and seclusive environment (「林泉擁聚、溪壑幽逸」), and the hiking trail was renowned for its splendid views of interweaving pinewoods, bamboos and terrace fields (「松竹滿道、古徑梯田」).
Together, the lush greenery and the quaint traditional houses have engendered a deep sense of serenity in Kop Tong. Streams at the back of the village originate from the mountaintop, flowing through the village entrance towards Lai Chi Wo Bay; while ancient trees guarding the village vicinity overlook the extraordinary scenery of Double Haven (印洲塘) and its islands Kat O and Ap Chau (鴨洲). A concrete road leading to the east coast of Lai Chi Wo Bay can be found in front of the village. Heading west from the village, there is another ancient path through the dense woods that leads one to Mui Tsz Lam in ten minutes.
(Source: Adapted from “東北區域面面觀” http://www.hkfca.org.hk/ne/)
