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52 / PHOTO FEATURE

okfulam Village is often de- stant threats of urban development.
scribed as a “brighter and clean- “Even people living here felt pessi-
Per” version of Kowloon Walled mistic about the village’s future at that
City. Tin-roofed huts, narrow alleys time. Everyone was feeling gloomy,”
and laundry hanging outside shabby Aaron Wong Kwong-cheung, vice- Even people living
huts are all features of the 400-year- chairperson of the Pokfulam Village
old village which is said to be one of Cultural Landscape Conservation here felt pessimistic
the last indigenous villages on Hong Group, recalls the early days when the
Kong Island. group was established in 2009. about the village’s
Surrounded by high rise buildings,
The group has initiated various
the village has witnessed important festive activities for villagers and out- future at that time.
historical moments of Hong Kong, the siders, to reunite the village with a
arrival of Missions étrangères de Paris “sense of belonging”. They also want Everyone was feel-
in the 1870s, and the establishment of to introduce the village culture to the ing gloomy
the largest dairy farm in Hong Kong public. Fire Dragon Dance performed
in the 19th century, just to name a few. at Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the
Today, the village is home to 3,000 res- highlights.
idents with different family names.
Like many other rural villages,
Pokfulam Village has been under con-