Date/Time
Date(s) - August 20, 2022
9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Categories

• HSW
• Tour

Dear Members

The Ma On Shan (MOS) Iron Mine is the only such mine known to have been upgraded to a large-scale industrial operation in Hong Kong’s history. From the early 20th century, when it was first discovered that Ma On Shan contained vast amounts of iron ore, until 1976 when the mine was closed, there were many socio-economic and political changes in Hong Kong both before and after the Second World War. The post-WWII era, in particular, saw immigrants arriving from different provinces of China, from Japan and even from Europe, and together they experienced a unique chapter in the history of Ma On Shan as well as of Hong Kong.

The MOS Iron Mine has a history that is rich in geology, engineering, technology, cultural landscape and religious belief.
• You may have heard about Japanese investment in Hong Kong but did you know that this had to do with the international situation after WWII and the advent of the Cold War?
• Would you like to learn more about how iron was mined in Ma On Shan?
• Did you know that half a century ago there was a pier from where more than 10,000 tonnes of iron ore were exported to Japan annually?

Following on from our August 18 ZOOM Webinar, Prof. Mee Kam Ng will guide a small group of members through this exciting field trip where we’ll learn more about the Ma On Shan Iron Mine, first hand.

Please sign-up HERE.

Details

Date  Saturday, August 20, 2022

Time  9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

CES    2.5 LUs/HSW

Fee    $100 (Members Only)

Quota 25

Please note:
• All participants will be required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” app upon arrival. Vaccine pass is required; please refer to the Vaccine Pass Guidelines here.
• For participants holding an Exemption Certificate issued by a certified doctor, the QR code of your Exemption Certificate must be presented for scanning upon arrival.

About the Speaker

Mee Kam Ng is Vice-chairman of the Department of Geography and Resource Management, the Director of the Urban Studies Programme, Associate Director of the Institute of Future Cities and of the Hong Kong Institute of Asian Pacific Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute, a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners and academic advisor to the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design.

She became a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in the United Kingdom in 2016 and was elected an Honorary Member of the AIA Hong Kong Chapter in 2021. Her publications have earned her six Hong Kong Institute of Planners’ Awards and the Association of European Schools of Planning Best Published Paper Award in 2015. She has been a consultant to the United Nations, the European Union and the Municipal Government of Shenzhen.

Tour Summary

Prof. Mee Kam Ng, Hon. AIA HK and Director of the Urban Studies Programme at Chinese University of Hong Kong, led tour of the disused Ma On Shan Iron Mine.

Discovered in 1906 for open mining, the mine was mechanized in 1940s for underground mining. At its peak in 1950-60s, the mine employed over 6000 workers. We first visited remnants of the mineral processing plant. At the 110ML, a concealed opening to a conveyor-belt tunnel, mine cart tracks were vaguely visible on forest floor. At the other end was 240ML, a concrete entrance now listed as a grade 2 historic monument.

Along the trail, we visited the Hakka Village, a settlement started by miners from Chiu Chou. At the peak is the Lutheran Yan Kwong Church and Mining Heritage Center, where resident staff introduced the mining artifacts as well as mineral samples. Finally, we enjoyed some cold brew coffee and iron cookies at the Miner’s Café.