Communities on the Typhoon Shelter
Introduction
Typhoon Shelter is the home base of Aberdeen fishermen. In the past fishing vessels and house boats lined up properly on the waterway. Along both sides of the shelter there were many affiliated business of fisheries, such as wholesale fish market, boatyards, machinery workshops and ice manufacturers. All these contributed to the making of a fishing community. Since 1960s numerous public housing estates, private mansions and estates established. Aberdeen fishermen gradually settled ashore.
(A). Selling Fish
1. Before 1949, Aberdeen fishermen sold fresh fish to fish collectors and dried fish to salted fish wholesalers in the Western District.
Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, 1964. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Ho Chau Ho (Male, b.1933, Purse Seining With Light)
2. Fish collection at Stanley, Po Toi Island and Lamma Island.
Fish sellers in Aberdeen, 1970s. (Source: Hahn, Werner. Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Hong Kong: Perennial Press, 1974)
Fisherman’s Story: Wong Choi Lan (Female, b.1962, Drift Netting)
3. In 1945, the government set up the Fish Marketing Organization. Since then, all fresh fishes were required to be sold at Wholesale Markets.
Stingray sold at Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Chung Yung Bor (Male, b.1964, Shrimp Trawling, Stern Trawling)
4. Wholesalers were also agents of fish auctioning in the wholesale market.
Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, 1970s. (Source: Hahn, Werner. Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Hong Kong: Perennial Press, 1974)
Fisherman’s Story: Chung Yung Bor (Male, b.1964, Shrimp Trawling, Stern Trawling)
5. Since the 1990s, wholesalers sent vessels to outer seas to collect fishing harvests.
Fish collecting boat in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter today.
Fisherman’s Story: Kwok Tai Hei (Male, b.1958, Shrimp Trawling)
(B). A Lively Water Community
1. Grocery boat
Grocery Boat in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, 1979. (Source: The University of Hong Kong Libraries)
Fisherman’s Story: Wong Choi Lan (Female, b.1962, Drift Netting)
2. Sun-dry boat
Sun-dry Boat in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, 1940s. (Courtesy of Mr. Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Sin Wai Lun (Male, b.1960, Shrimp Trawling, Pair Trawling)
3. Go to school
Children rowing a small boat in Aberbeen Typhoon Shelter, mid-1970s. (Source: Hahn, Werner. Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Hong Kong: Perennial Press, 1974)
Fisherman’s Story: Sin Wai Lun (Male, b.1960, Shrimp Trawling, Pair Trawling)
4. Gill netting
Chung Mei in Aberdeen, 1960s. (Source: Mr Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung Pak Sun (Male, b.1945, Purse Seining with Light)
5. Fish collecting
Fish collectors buying catches from fishermen at Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, mid-1970s. (Source: Hahn, Werner. Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Hong Kong: Perennial Press, 1974)
Fisherman’s Story: Kwok Tai Hei (Male, b.1958, Shrimp Trawling)
6. Feast Boat
Feast Boat in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. The building at bottom right corner with a pyramid rooftop is City Hall Feast Boat, early 1970s. (Source: Hahn, Werner. Aberdeen: Catching the Last Rays. Hong Kong: Perennial Press, 1974)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung To Kan, Male, b.1952, Shrimp Trawling, Pair Trawling
7. Boat makers
Shipyards in Aberdeen, 1972. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung Kam Fook, Male, b.1936, Shrimping Trawling, Pair Trawling
(C). House Boats
1. For the young and old to stay behind.
Harmony between grandparent and grandson on the fishing boat, 1963. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Sin Wai Lun (Male, b.1960, Shrimp Trawler, Pair Trawler)
2. A house boat implies fortune.
Lives on house boats in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, 1960s. (Courtesy of Mr. Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Sin Chi Wah (Male, b.1946, Drift Netting)
3. Lack of water and electricity.
Fishermen used to collect fresh water by oil storage cans, 1960s. (Courtesy of Mr. Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung Yau Chuen (Male, b.1967, Shrimp Trawler, Stern Trawler)
4. Outwork on the boat
Children making plastic flowers on house boats, 1964. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Wong Choi Lan (Female, b.1962, Drift Netting)
5. Near to Ap Lei Chau
House Boats in Ap Lei Chau, 1983. (Courtesy of Mr. Ko Tim Keung)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung Yau Chuen (Male, b. 1967, Shrimp Trawler, Stern Trawler)
6. A “Midway House”?”
House boats in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, 1963. (Source: Photo Library, Information Services Department)
Fisherman’s Story: Ho Chau Ho (Male, b.1933, Purse Seining with Light)
(D). Living Ashore
1. From house boat to resettlement hut.
Stilt houses in Chung Mei, Aberdeen, 1960s. (Courtesy of Mr. Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Lai Muk Kam (Male, b.1927, Long Lining)
2. Moving to Lei Tung Estate after a fire.
Looking to Lei Tung Estate from Yuk Kwai Mountain, Ap Lei Chau, late 1980s. (Source: The University of Hong Kong Libraries)
Fisherman’s Story: Law Wai Fong (Female, b.1953, Drift Netting, Long Lining)
3. From wooden hut to public housing.
Wah Fu Estate, 1977. (Courtesy of Mr. Ko Tim Keung)
Fisherman’s Story: Leung Kam Fook (Male, b.1936, Shrimp Trawling, Pair Trawling)
4. Keeping the boat, giving up public housing.
Looking up to Ap Lei Chau Estate from Ap Lei Chau Main Street, 1980s. (Courtesy of Mr. Encore Sin)
Fisherman’s Story: Ng Chan (Male, b.1952, Shrimp Trawling)