Social value of Tai O, cultural mapping of a stilt house family

Abstract

Tai O, one of the oldest but most intact fishing village in Hong Kong is currently facing the challenges and threats. The Hong Kong Government wants to reorganize the stilt house area to makes it more standardized and move residents to public housing. The social connection within this neighborhood is fading due to population decline and tourism influx. Stilt houses are the living place of Tai O residents, their base and the roof of their lives. There is a need to record and further study the social value of this unique cluster of a stilt house community before it is lost. This paper aims to document a Tai O stilt house in order to record the social values and the tangible and intangible character-defining elements of Kwok family stilt house as a case study. As well as questing and tracing back the history of original life of stilt house, the similarity and difference from the past to present could be shown. By mapping the interior design of the stilt house and its relationship to daily life and culture, the community spirit can be documented and analyzed so as to give a better understanding to conserve this special community in Hong Kong.