The Hung Lau of Tuen Mun

Hung Lau, meaning “Red House,” is a lesser-known historic building tucked away in the hinterland of Tuen Mun. It has a special place in the history of Hong Kong. Although its significance is not widely known, it bears a critical remembrance as a home base to some of Dr. Sun Yatsen’s planning for the 1911 Revolution.

A Brief History of Hung Lau

A Grade 1 historic building, Hung Lau was built perhaps about a hundred years ago. In around 1901, the area was a farm known as Castle Peak Farm owned by Li Ki Tong, the son of a Hong Kong businessman. He met Dr. Sun Yatsen on a ship to Japan. He then joined the Revive China Society, which was the revolutionary organization that garnered the international support for the revolution. Since then, Li Ki Tong has provided Hung Lau for Dr. Sun Yatsen’s revolutionary cause. Dr. Sun Yatsen and his supporters met here to discuss their plans. In fact, the revolutionaries might have stored weapons and practiced their warring skills here too.

Perhaps worth mentioning is that there is another 1911 Revolution heritage in Ha Pak Nai. Together with that structure, the Castle Peak Farm and Hung Lau served as secure and then unknown bases for the 1911 Revolution in northwestern Hong Kong. See introduction of the fortified structure at Ha Pak Nai here.

The Current Status of Hung Lau

It is a two-story building built in red bricks, the hue of which gave the building its name. Hung Lau and its surrounding land is now owned by a mainland Chinese businessman. Even before the private ownership, the building had been left in ruins. When the building came into private hands, however, the news got out that there were plans to demolish it. In fact, small house next to the main building was already taken down.

For a brief period of time in 2017, the building became a proposed monument in order to delay its demolition by the private owner. However, the government eventually decided in late 2017 that there was not enough concrete evidence proving the building’s significance in the 1911 Revolution to give it a Declared Monument status.

There was a long time when Taiwan supporters gathered here to celebrate the Double Ten Festival. That, of course, is no longer seen today. The building has come under the ownership of a mainland Chinese businessman since 2018. Also due to the operation of the National Security Law, supporters of Taiwan no longer hold events here. One can easily imagine Hung Lau and its significance to be buried by the tides of history and descend into oblivion in the near future.

The Visit

I drove and it was probably a good idea. For drivers, the way of entry is via the Tuen Mun Riding School nextdoor. Tell the guard that you are seeing Hung Lau and they will let you in. Once inside the equestrian school, make a right and arrive at the gate. Someone will open the gate for you when you get there. Once out of the gate, you will arrive at the outskirts of the Zhongshan Park. The Hung Lau will be on your left. Note that you must not enter the grounds of the building itself as it is now privately owned property. At the most you may just take a few photographs at the gate.

The Zhongshan park is a small park next to the heritage, with a nice pagoda and some green park space. There was quite a community there, as people gathered to set up their own karaoke booths. It was anything but restful, so I just took two photographs of the building and left.

Sources

CACHe, The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage on Hung Lau, Castle Peak, Tuen Mun.

The Wikipedia on Zhongshan Park in Tuen Mun (Chin).