Luk Keng鹿頸

One of the early documentation of Luk Keng was in “Yuet Dai Gei” (《粵大記》), published back in the mid-16th century, during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (明朝萬曆年間).

Situated in Sha Tau Kok district, Luk Keng consists of different clans, with the major ones being the Chans and the Wongs. Four ancestral halls can be found in the village, among which the Wong Chun Yu Ancestral Hall (春儒黃公祠) and the Chan Nam Tak Ancestral Hall (男德陳公祠) have been classified as Grade Three Historic Buildings. It is said that the Wong Chun Yu Ancestral Hall was built during the Kangxi era (1661-1722, 康熙年間) and underwent renovations in 1926 and 2002 respectively. The Chan Nam Tak Ancestral Hall, also known as Wen Lin Tong (文林堂), was built before 1908.

During the Kangxi era, the ancestor of the Wong’s clan, Wong Nai Sau (黃乃秀), left his homeland and finally settled down in Luk Keng. Over time, his descendants multiplied. Yet, the clan members believed that building more houses would adversely affect the feng shui (風水) setting, hence from 1917 onwards, the Wongs gradually migrated to Tam Shui Hang (担水抗村), Ta Kwu Ling (打鼓嶺) and Lung Yeuk Tau (龍躍頭) in Sha Tau Kok (沙頭角).

In the 1950s, Luk Keng had a population of about six hundred and twenty people. In the early days, villagers resided in a barren mountainous area facing the Sha Tau Kok sea. Later, as the land was cultivated and polders were constructed, villagers practiced farming and fishing for subsistence.

Architectural and Social Landscape

The Japanese gun fort and observation post erected in the mountains during the Japanese Occupation period are classified as Grade Two Historic Buildings

The now-abandoned Luk Keng Public School, built in 1952, was considerably large compared to other contemporary schools.

In addition, the irrigation water slope and the first artificial fish pond in the North District were completed in 1954 and 1958 respectively.

In the 1960s to 1970s, the Sha Tau Kok Road was completed, while the construction of the Plover Cove Reservoir (船灣淡水湖) had commenced. As a result, paddy fields were requisitioned, and water sources were intercepted, making livelihoods difficult. Most of the villagers moved to urban areas or emigrated to the United Kingdom to seek better opportunities, leading to a sharp population decline.

Currently, only a few households of the Wongs and Chans have remained in Luk Keng. Some residents are determined to stay in their ancestral homes or have returned to the village after retirement.

Luk Keng and several Hakka villages in Nam Chung (南涌) have jointly formed the ” Nam-Luk Coalition” (「南鹿社」聯盟) and co-host Tai Ping Ching Chiu (太平清醮) every ten years.

The “Wing Hing society” (永慶社) of the Luk Keng Village was established to connect the Wong’s, Chan’s, Chu’s, and Lam’s villages. In the past, they held rituals and ceremonies four times a year to worship their ancestors.

Location

In the past, Luk Keng was an important transportation hub for land and sea in the northeastern rural area. Situated at the end of the Sha Tau Kok Road, goods were transported from the village pier via Shenzhen to Mirs Bay. Luk Keng was also the starting point for travels in the northeastern region. Following the trail along the coast from Luk Keng, one could reach Fung Hang (鳳坑) and Kuk Po (谷埔).

References

Shen Si: “Luk Keng: A Small Hakka Village and Its Past” (2020) Ming Pao shorturl.at/cnPUW

Sha Tau Kok Luk Keng Study Report (2005) by Yuan Gam Fai and Fan Hoi Ying shorturl.at/rvY04

Summary of 1,444 Historic Buildings (2010) Antiquities and Monuments Office shorturl.at/lsTX9