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Kat Hing Wai Walled Village
Kat Hing Wai (Chinese: 吉慶圍) is a Punti walled village located in the Yuen Long District of Hong Kong, commonly referred to as Kam Tin, named after the surrounding area. The village is home to around 400 descendants of the Tang Clan, one of the 'Five Great Clans' of Hong Kong, who settled here from China during the Song dynasty. The village walls were constructed in the 17th century, and the Tangs, who are Punti people from Southern China, were among the first to settle in Hong Kong. The residents of Kat Hing Wai speak the Weitou dialect, a variety of Yue Chinese.
Nearby, there are three other walled villages—Wing Lung Wai, Tai Hong Wai, and Kam Hing Wai—built around the same period. Kat Hing Wai was established during the reign of the Ming Chenghua Emperor (1464–1487), and the defensive walls were built by Tang Chue-yin and Tang Chik-kin in the early years of the Qing Kangxi reign (1661–1722).
The village gained historical significance during the Six-Day War in 1899, when the British Empire clashed with the major Punti clans of the New Territories. The Tang Clan joined in resisting the British takeover, and Kat Hing Wai became a defensive stronghold. After the British victory, the iron gates were removed and shipped to London for display. However, following repatriation requests from the Tang Clan, one gate was returned in 1924 by Sir Edward Stubbs, and a commemorative tablet was placed at the entrance to mark the event. This history gives Kat Hing Wai unique architectural and historical value.
The village is a quasi-rectangular structure (100 by 90 meters) with seven-meter-high brick walls, originally constructed for protection against pirates and invasions from rival clans. The area inside the walls covers approximately 80 meters square. Over the centuries, Kat Hing Wai has served as a stronghold for the Tang Clan, protecting residents from bandits, rival clans, and wild tigers. During the Qing dynasty, additional fortifications, including a five-meter-high blue brick wall and four cannon towers, were added for defense.
Today, the village remains surrounded by 18-inch-thick walls, with the remnants of a moat outside. Most of the houses inside have been rebuilt in recent years. There is only one narrow entrance, which once had a pair of iron gates. After being removed by the British in 1899, one gate was returned in 1924, while the other remains in Tai Hong Wai. Currently, the standing gates are mismatched, with the left gate being a gift from Tai Hong Wai.
Kat Hing Wai is a private property. In 2002, the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs stated that the Antiquities and Monuments Office was negotiating with the owners to preserve the village as a monument. In 2010, the entrance gate, shrine, four watchtowers, and surrounding walls were listed as Grade I historic buildings.
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Inserted: 08-01-2025 21:01:49
Questions related to this Data Point
How do the architectural features of Kat Hing Wai Walled Village symbolize the clan's historical priorities?
How does Kat Hing Wai's architectural design reflect the defensive needs of its time?
How does the historical context of the Tang Clan’s resistance to British rule influence the village's modern identity?
How has Kat Hing Wai Walled Village's historical role in the Six-Day War shaped its cultural identity?
How might the inclusion of Kat Hing Wai's gates and walls as Grade I historic buildings affect future conservation policies?
How might the negotiation process between Kat Hing Wai's owners and the Antiquities and Monuments Office impact future development plans?
In what ways has Kat Hing Wai's role as a private property influenced its preservation efforts?
What are the implications of the Tang Clan's long-standing presence for the cultural heritage of Kat Hing Wai Walled Village?
What impact did the British removal and later return of Kat Hing Wai's iron gates have on the village's heritage?
What significance does the Tang Clan's continued presence at Kat Hing Wai have for its social structure?
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Credits: Chong Fat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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