This inscription headed Chek Chue Tin Hau Temple - bell, appears in the 3 volume, 892 page, Chinese language text compiled by David Faure, Bernard H.K. Luk, & Alice Ngai-ha Lun Ng (eds), titled Historical Inscriptions of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 1986.
A rough, incomplete reading of the text would indicate that the inscription is dated 1767, and is embossed onto a commemorative bell that is associated with the Chek Chue Tin Hau Temple.
Date picture taken
1767
Shows place(s)
Comments
Re: The second missing charecter
Hi there,
The second missing character should be easy, if 乾隆三十二年is correct. That would be the word 丁。The corresponding phrase for the year is 丁亥。
T
ps there is a Wiki entry concerning this sixty year cycle stuff
RE: The open square symbol appearing in the transcribed text
Thank you “tngan” for your revealing comment and useful link, which have enabled a relative novice like me to appreciate how the “stem and branch” nomenclature relating to the year might fit seamlessly into that piece of text. I believe that the open square symbol is used to indicate characters appearing on the original artifact that have been in some way damaged, worn, or even poorly cast in the foundry, so as to be for the most part illegible; but, as you have now clearly demonstrated, not in all cases unknowable.