Two historic buildings declared as monuments (with photos)
The Government today (October 10) gazetted a notice announcing that the Antiquities Authority (i.e. the Secretary for Development) has declared Lo Pan Temple in Kennedy Town and the Residence of Tang Pak Kau in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.
Lo Pan Temple is a well-recognised historic temple in Hong Kong dedicated to Lo Pan. It was first built in 1884 and rebuilt at the same site in 1928. The temple was embellished with intricate murals, plaster mouldings, wood carvings and pottery decorations, among which are the pottery decorations on the ridges of the temple produced by the renowned pottery ridge shop Junyu in Shiwan. The distinctive stepped gable walls of the temple are rare in Hong Kong. Since its establishment, the local construction sector has been following the tradition of paying homage to Lo Pan at the temple on his birthday, carrying on the unique culture and tradition of the construction industry.
The Residence of Tang Pak Kau was probably built in the early 20th century. Tang Pak Kau (1876-1950) was a businessman and a distinguished member of the Tang clan in Kam Tin. He made remarkable contributions to the development of Kam Tin, Yuen Long and the New Territories, in particular in the areas of education and medical services. He once set up a private school inside his residence to provide education for children of the Tang clan. The residence is a rectangular-shaped single-storey grey brick building with a three-storey watchtower. The building structure and decorations of the residence demonstrate a blend of Chinese and Western styles. Most of the original building fabric, finishes and decorations are preserved in the building. The residence is a testament to the development of Kam Tin, Yuen Long and Tang Pak Kau's achievements.
Information on the two monuments is available on the website of the Antiquities and Monuments Office (www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/index.html).
