Nestled in the beautiful and verdant hills of the Sai Kung Country Park, Pak Lap Wan is described as the “Maldives of Hong Kong.” Pak Lap Wan is perfect for hiking excursions. The scenery along the way is exquisite, hikers can feast their eyes on the range of lofty hills.
Pak Lap Village is a small Hakka village with only a few inhabitants remaining today. The village has a history of at least 100 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population in the old Pak Lap was about 40; however, in the 1950s, many villagers of Pak Lap immigrated to the UK. During that time, the village went empty, and the houses were dilapidated.
Old Pak Lap Village
The Aging Village Building and the Damaged of Wooden Structure
In the old days, the construction method was simple and primitive. Materials from the land were directly used for constructing village buildings. Pak Lap Village is located very close to the seashore; high humidity damaged the wooden construction, such as beams, staircase and wooden roof structure. With the severe ageing of timber and without proper maintenance, many houses collapsed and left the whole village in ruin.
The collapse of Wooden Structure in the Village Buildings
The Damage to the Old Pak Lap Pier
The British government built the original pier in Pak Lap in the 1970s. It collapsed in the 1990s due to several typhoons. It disconnected the main transportation route from Pak Lap to Sai Kung.