"Recollective memory” : rediscovering the lost community narratives for the recovery of the spirit of place of Wong Nai Chung Village

Abstract

Collective memories of historic buildings are frequently discussed in the public domain because they are closely related to our shared history and sense of identity. When we are walking down the street, many such "nameless" buildings catch our attention due to their unusual details or aesthetic design. We may discover that they are a hidden urban gem in terms of local history and architectural styles if we dig into their history. The fact that their narratives are being lost does not imply that they are not significant to the people and the neighborhood; they are likely being buried over time. The dissertation focuses on Happy Valley (also known as "Wong Nai Chung"), which is now regarded as an upper-middle-class residential district, surrounded by European-style residences built by Hong Kong's wealthy and privileged class. The issue is that many memories in Wong Nai Chung have been buried amid modern urbanization and demolition since the 1920s, but some have not. This dissertation's research dates back to before the district was named Happy Valley, when it was housed in one of Hong Kong's oldest Chinese villages – Wong Nai Chung Village – in order to unearth those who have been buried over time by recollecting faded collective memory in people's recollections. Inspired by the Liber Research Community's reveal of the first territory-wide study of historical buildings in Hong Kong, I began researching the Wong Nai Chung area and discovered that some of the remnants still exist today but are mostly forgotten. To re-collect these neglected and fragmentary characteristics of historical buildings and structures, it must be examined from a socio-historical and cultural perspective in the pre-war and early post-war period in Hong Kong. Only with such an approach is it possible to re-collect the narratives of Wong Nai Chung's historical buildings and structures. This research aims to contribute to the completion and documentation of the narratives of Wong Nai Chung Village and its historical and social environments. The author hopes that the research will provide a demonstration of the importance of documentation for conservation in an area-based approach, in the hope that it would inspire civic society to conduct independent heritage research.