Tai O is a rare place in Hong Kong that is still much involved in the fishing tradition and village…read moresettlement culture, although it is also witnessing much change over the years, such as the stopping of hand-operated ferry, building of bridges subsequently, and the big fire that burnt much of the stilt houses in 2000. In view of the disappearing culture of the ancestors, the village committees of Tai O created this little non-government owned private museum, in order to showcase the history of Tai O, before everything is gone under the tides of development.
In this tiny 'museum' - essentially occupying only 1 shop area at a locate shop house, you can see many fishing nets, fish hooks, repairing and making tools for them used by the local fishermen. There is also a nice collection of household utensils, and other goods of the boat villagers, to allow you a glimpse of the lives on a boat, which is not commonly imagined by us living on land. There are also quite a few old photos, maps documenting changes regarding the coastal area, as well as the livelihood of people living here. These objects are all donated by the local villagers, in hopes of consolidating the collective memory of this fishing neighbourhood, and tell the story to the younger generations and visitors. I think this communal effort in retaining the cultural identity is very nice, and worth learning from, for citizens living in other old districts of Hong Kong, which are facing the inevitable flux of quick change to their neighbourhood.
