Luk Tei Tong Watchtower
Luk Tei Tong, Mui Wo, Lantau
Historical Interest
Luk Tei Tong (鹿地塘) is one of the villages in Mui Wo (梅窩), Lantau. It is in the southwest of Mui Wo. The village was mainly occupied by the Tsangs (曾) who originated in Shangtong (山東) province. Tsang Fa-kang (曾法綱), the 17th generation ancestor of the Tsangs, moved to Meixian (梅縣) of Guangdong (廣東) province in the 17th century. His seven sons were divided into seven branches whose descendents had their own ancestors to worship. One of which moved to Changle (長樂) of the province whose ancestor was Tsang Ching (曾禎). Tsang Shing-chew (曾成橋), a 16th member of the branch, later moved to Mui Wo in the late Qing (清, 1644-1911) dynasty and established the village. The watchtower in the village was erected for defence purpose against pirates, bandits and the Japanese in around 1942 by the Tsangs. The watchtower was converted for residential use after the war in the 1950s. It is left vacant.
Architectural Merit
The tower is a detached building built against a hill at its southwest elevation with its northeast elevation facing the Silver Mine Bay (銀礦灣). It is a three-storey building with a rectangular base. It is a Chinese vernacular structure constructed of granite blocks and concrete with its walls to support the flat roof. The granite blocks are rendered in regular bonding with cement and sand mortar. Internally it is plastered. Small windows are on four sides of the towers with iron bars. The windows are with hoods on the external walls. A parapet wall is at the roof level with small slit gun holes. A horizontal beam is constructed surrounding the foot of the parapet wall for rainwater drainage. A narrow door was opened on its southwest elevation.
Rarity
It is a watchtower in Luk Tei Tong village to remind the settlement of the Tsangs. It is one of the two watchtowers left in Mui Wo. The other one is in Chung Hau (涌口) of Mui Wo. Two other ones in Butterfly Hill (蝴蝶山) are in ruin.
Built Heritage Value
It has some built heritage value.
Authenticity
Its authenticity is kept though the tower is with some wild vegetation.
Group Value
It has group value with the rebuilt ancestral hall of the Tsangs on its left.
Social Value, & Local Interest
The site of the watchtower was bought by Tsang Fuk-shang (曾福生), a 21st generation member of the branch, in 1914 for building purpose. He was engaged in agricultural and shipping business and had grocery trade in Cheung Chau (長洲). He had a company called Tai Wo Tong (太和堂). His son Tsang Lin (曾連) was a village representative of Kuk Tei Tong in 1953-1993. Many descendents of the Tsangs participated in the construction of the tower and resided in the tower. The tower was occupied by bandits and the Japanese soldiers during the Japanese Occupation (1941-45).
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