The Changing of Ma On Shan Village

Why We Chose this Topic Investigate issues on humanities in Shatin - Sai Kung district We wanted to explore an old village Ma On Shan Village is special Ma On Shan Village’s location is good for us

The location of Ma On Shan Village

Before Mining Started People’s trace was found early in BC 2500 Farmers and fishermen lived in Ma On Shan since Sung Dynasty The Wen’s Village was existed before mining developed in Ma On Shan.

How did Mining Started The Hong Kong Iron Mining Company started mining in groups of students from US came to mine for iron, but they failed.

In 1940, South China Smelters Ltd got the mining right. The Mutual Trust Company got the mining right in The building of Mutual Trust Company.

Development of Mining At first,opencast mining method was used. In 1954, tunnel mining method was used. opencast mining tunnel mining

It increased productivity which led to long term stable production. Technicians from Japan.

Causes Ended the Mining In 1970s, Japan stopped buying ore from Hong Kong. Most of the miners went away for better jobs. Hong Kong Government ceased giving the mining right.

Worker’s Life Miners worked hard but their wages were very little They found Ma On Shan Village was a good place to live in.

The changing of churches The reasons why churches started develop in HK: A large number of refugees came from Mainland China They were very poor and needed helps Welfare service in Hong Kong was not yet developed at that time

Catholic Church St. Francis Society came to HK in 1948 Church of St. Joseph ’ s was set up at April 25, The administer of the Church was Father Wu.

The Church of St. Francis Was built in 1952 on the hill The Church of St. Francis

The church included : sanctuary, doctrine hall, primary school, kindergarten Clinic, etc. A meeting in the church

The St. Joseph ’ s Primary School Was opened in 1952 The St. Joseph’s Primary School The classrooms

The church nowadays Was old and was destroyed Classrooms and the place where the priest and nuns lived were messy. The statue of Mother Mary An old piano Inside the church

Christian Churches Lutheran Church was built in 1950s, it provided: Help of food and clothes Education services for children Medical services Child-care services Occupation training services

The church nowadays was changed into a campus for its believers to hold religious activities in 1977 The campus The church nowadays

A kind person Mr. Cheung Pu Mr. Cheung Pu followed the St. Francis Society to go to Ma On Shan. After the mine closed down, he moved to the hill for living He helped the elderly in Ma On Shan Village a lot. The TVB news department made a video of him and the elderly. Mr. Cheung died on 1 st February 2001

Ma On Shan Village Nowadays Ma On Shan village is now a deserted village with old miners and their spouses and new emigrants. The village nowadays

The transportation is inconvenient. Old shuttle bus. New shuttle bus.

Interview Result 10% 70% 20% Q: How often do they go to the urban area?

The future of Ma On Shan Village a villager suggests changing the Catholic Church to an elderly home for old miners The organization plan to change the Ma On Shan Village to a theme park.

Q: Do you support the idea of changing Ma On Shan Village as a theme park? 10% agree 80% disagree 10% No idea Interview Result

Conclusion Ma On Shan have changed rapidly. The group of old miners are being forgotten. We hope to arouse people’s attention to the old silent contributors.

References 馬鞍山風物誌（礦業興衰） 馬鞍山風物誌（鞍山歲月） The Hong Kong Heritage Museum

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