Hong Kong Stories ---Bonding at Water’s Edge
Located at the corner of the Clear Water Bay Peninsula of Sai Kung, Po Toi O is surrounded by the mountains on three sides and shaped like a sack, thus earning its name Po Toi (meaning a “sack”). Po Toi O still retains the rustic charm of the fishing village, with over ten fishermen’s families living in the stilted houses along the coast.
Over 60 years ago, the fisherman PO Sui and his wife went ashore and moved back to Po Toi O. He erected a three-storeyed house next to the pier on his own, and ran a restaurant in the form of a shophouse. As boat people relied on water as a means of living, he would go fishing during the break between lunch time and dinner time every day, so as to provide “catch of the day”, in addition to daily dishes, for the restaurant to support a family of seven.
Half a century later, the family-operated restaurant has been passed down from the father to the son, and from the son to the grandson. The third-generation successor is PO Ka-wing from the post-90s generation. The POs complement each other in running the small seaside shop. Being hospitable, the whole family has made friends with many customers and will get together with them for a catch-up.
Apart from the seafood, Po Toi O Chuen still retains its unique traditional culture. Villagers worship the Deities of the Sea – Tin Hau and Hung Shing. The Hung Shing Temple in the village was built in the early years of the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty. It is one of the oldest Hung Shing Temples in Hong Kong. In the eighth lunar month every year, villagers will hold grand celebratory events, and villagers who have moved out will come back to join the events. The Floral tribute societies nearby will also come to celebrate the Hung Shing Festival. Fishermen from Clear Water Bay, Shau Kei Wan across the sea, and as far as Lamma Island, will attend the annual gathering here.
