The Government today published a gazette notice to declare Lo Pan Temple in Kennedy Town and the Residence of Tang Pak Kau in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, as monuments under the Antiquities & Monuments Ordinance.

Lo Pan Temple is a well-recognised historic temple dedicated to Lo Pan, the patron of builders and contractors. It was first built in 1884 and rebuilt at the same site in 1928.

The temple is embellished with intricate murals, plaster mouldings, wood carvings and pottery decorations, including decorations on its ridges that were produced by Junyu, a renowned pottery sculpture shop in Shiwan.

The distinctive stepped gable walls of the temple are rare in Hong Kong. Since its establishment, the local construction sector has followed the tradition of paying homage to Lo Pan at the temple on his birthday.

The Residence of Tang Pak Kau was probably built in the early 20th century. The late businessman Tang Pak Kau was a distinguished member of the Tang clan in Kam Tin. He made remarkable contributions to the development of Kam Tin, Yuen Long and the New Territories, in particular in the areas of education and medical services.

These contributions included setting up a private school inside his residence to provide education for children of the Tang clan. The residence is a testament to the development of the local area and to Tang Pak Kau’s achievements.

The residence is a rectangular-shaped single-storey grey brick building with a three-storey watchtower. The building’s structure and decorations demonstrate a blend of Chinese and Western styles. Most of the building’s original fabric, finishes and decorations are preserved.

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