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Lecture - Kaiping, Diaolou and the Tango Community Project - Mr. Peter Stuckey and Mr. Rocky Dang

  • Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier No.8 11 Man Kwong Street Central, Hong Kong Island Hong Kong (map)

Kaiping lies just 150 kms west of Hong Kong. It is famous for its unique fortress watchtowers, known as diaolou. Over 3 million Chinese emigrated from this county and three of its neighbouring counties. 25% of Hong Kong people can claim ancestry to this region.

Starting nine years ago in Cangdong village in Kaiping with an exercise in sustainable conservation, Rocky Dang and Dr. Selia Tan received a UNESCO Award of Merit in heritage conservation in 2015 for their work in the village.

Following this, Rocky set up the Tangkou Community Project. Tangkou is a beautiful district, set among rice paddy, within Kaiping and is home to 500 diaolou. The Project helps visitors discover the extraordinary history and vibrant local culture, while at the same time enlivening the community and encouraging cultural exchange.

At Tangkou Rocky has revitalized a disused HK Watch factory, a metal lampshade factory and the old post office and transformed them into an attractive hostel and Inn, a restaurant with an open kitchen, a bar, a library, a cycle store and meeting rooms with seminar facilities. With the help of village staff, volunteers and interns, the Project welcomes scholarly and recreational groups and individuals from the Mainland, Hong Kong and overseas.

The Speakers

Peter Stuckey was born in Plymouth and graduated from Cambridge University. He came to Hong Kong in 1977 as a Civil Engineer to work on landslide preventive measures. He has served on the Activities Committee of the RASHK for over 20 years and was Vice President of the Society for seven years.

Rocky Dang Hue, is an Overseas Chinese, born in Cholon, Vietnam. He also came to Hong Kong in 1977 and started his travel business, Phoenix Services Agency (HK) Ltd in 1980. He returned and worked in Vietnam from 1992-1998 as Chief Representative of Barclays Bank in Hanoi. Together with Peter, he has led many of the RASHK regional and overseas visits since 2006. Rocky will detail the aims and prospects of the Project.

Time: Reception desk opens 6.30 for talk beginning at 7.00pm

Admission: RAS Members $150; Non-members $200 including snacks and a complimentary drink – please advise of any special dietary needs.

Booking: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk in advance to reserve your place and pay at the door