This book adopts the perspective of historical anthropology in studying the development of Hong Kong Catholicism in Sai Kung, since the establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture in 1841. In exploring the foundation of the Diocese in the local Chinese rural society, this book discourses how Christianity was disseminated amid the community embedded in traditional beliefs, the relationship between evangelism with Chinese traditional culture, customs and society, and the role of Catholic missionaries as a medium of Eastern and Western cultural exchanges from the early colonial period until the territory’s reunification with Mainland China.

The book is divided into seven historical phrases according to the evolutionary development of Catholicism in Sai Kung District. First it gives a brief account of the history and population of Sai Kung as the context to which Catholicism was first introduced to the area. Then the early days of Hong Kong’s foundation as a treaty port, the inception period of Catholic Mission in Sai Kung Peninsula, and the early to later stage of the Apostolic Vicariate are revisited. This publication also reviews the martyred missionaries, the hardships faced by the clergymen during the Japanese occupation, as well as the rebuilding and revitalisation of the church in the post-war period.

When sorting out and researching the missionary history of Catholicism in the countryside of Sai Kung, the Working Committee of “Following Thy Way” not only retrieved the historical records of more than a hundred years in the Diocesan and government archives, but the research team also visited more than 20 villages scattered on the Sai Kung Peninsula by foot and boats so that the historic footprints of the past missionaries are strolled. To enhance the readers’ interest and easy association with the historical events, the book is supplemented by more than 100 rare photos accompanied with the chronology of major events around each chapel, which have seldom been presented to the public before.

Contents

Preface 1  Rev. Peter CHOY Wai-man

Preface 2  Rev. Deacon Faustus LAM Sair-ling

Preface 3  Frederick Cheung Hok-ming, PhD

Introduction  Missionaries as a Medium of Cultural Exchange Between the East and the West

Chapter 1  Traditional Society of Sai Kung and the Encounter with Catholicism

The Geographical and Natural Environment of Sai Kung

History of Sai Kung

The Population Distribution and Society of Sai Kung

The Pioneer of Rural Missions: the Encounter between PIME Fathers and Hakka

Chapter 2  The Period of Apostolic Prefecture: the Foundation of Catholic Mission in Sai Kung

Sai Kung under the Management of the Apostolic Prefecture of Hong Kong

The Arrival of the First Priest of Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in Hong Kong

Integration into the Hakka Island: St. Joseph Freinademetz in Yim Tin Tsai

Travelling Missionaries: Drawing of the first “Map of the San-On District, Kwangtung Province” by Rev. Volonteri and others

Chapter 3  The Period of Apostolic Vicariate: Hardship and Harvest

Bishop Raimondi’s Visit to Sai Kung after a Typhoon

A Pastoral Visit with Bishop Piazzoli

The Lease of the New Territories by the United Kingdom: Sai Kung separated from the Continental District

Bishop Valtorta appointed Apostolic Vicar and Rev. Teruzzi as the Director of the District of Sai Kung

A New Church built in Pak Sha O Catholic Village

Coastal Chapels: Pak Tam Chung “Lo Ma Tong” and Lung Shun Wan “Mission Centre”

Chapter 4  Tai Long District and the Japanese Occupation Period: Loss of Control and Danger

Tai Long District and Sai Kung Society before the Japanese Occupation

Sai Kung Society during the Japanese Occupation: the Murder of a Chinese Priest

Wong Mo Ying Chapel and the Sacrifice of Anti-Japanese Villagers

Rev. Teruzzi’s Martyrdom: an Unbearable Burden

Chek Keng Holy Family Chapel: Escape and Rescue

Chapter 5  Establishment of the Diocese and Post-war Social Services

The Development of Catholic Mission in Post-war Hong Kong

The Establishment of Sai Wan Star of the Sea Chapel

Education: Sham Chung Kung Man School and Local Society

Tan Ka Wan: A Unique Catholic Clubhouse

Social Services in Sai Kung: Rev. Adelio Lambertoni and the Faith Community of Fishermen

Chapter 7  Pilgrimage and Conservation Period

The Catholic Scout Guild and Rehabilitation of the Church

Chapel Renovation: From Catholic School, Camp to Pilgrimage Site

Rehabilitation of St. Joseph’s Chapel: the Conservation Road of Sai Kung Chapels

Conclusion: The Missionary Footsteps and Religious Heritage

Appendix I: Concise Biography of Missionaries and Priesthood in Sai Kung

Appendix II: Chronology of Events in Chapels of Sai Kung

Epilogue and Acknowledgements

Bibliography

YUEN Chi Wai, PhD, LLB

Project Coordinator and Editor-in-Chief of the research project “History of Catholic Mission and Chapels in Sai Kung (1841-2000)” sponsored by the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. Dr. Yuen has been the Committee Member of the Diocesan Working Committee for “Following Thy Way” (2018-2021) and Honorary Research Associate of the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong. He specialised in research areas including Hong Kong history, cultural heritage and lineages in the New Territories, Hakka village culture, Hong Kong popular religion and history of tourism etc. In recent years, he has focused on Christian history, in particular, the history of religious architecture and heritage. He has various publications on history of Catholic Mission in Hong Kong such as “East and West: The Missionary History of Catholicism in Hong Kong” and “Journal of Catholic Studies: History of Catholicism in Hong Kong in the 20^th Century” published by the CUHK, “Walking with the Lord Series” and other journal articles and conference papers etc.

YU Ka Ho

Obtained History (MPhil) in The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2015. An amateur history writer who has interest in the social and cultural history and history of religion in Hong Kong. Looking forward to researching on interesting topics such as the interaction of culture and socio-economic aspect, and local history of different religions, etc.

HUI Ka Long Aaron

Hui Ka Long Aaron received a BSc in Public Health from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master of Medical Sciences from the University of Hong Kong and an MA in Comparative and Public History from CUHK. Seemingly the jack of all trades with an inter-disciplinary academic background, Aaron should be more suitably seen as a master of none. Aaron has a keen interest in Hong Kong history and colonial history.

NGO Tsz Leong

A Roman Catholic graduated from Department of History of Hong Kong Baptist University. He is interested in theology, especially dogmatics.