Declared Monuments in Hong Kong

Ma Wat Wai was built by the Tang lineage during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the renowned Five Wais (walled villages) and Six Tsuens (villages) in the area of Lung Yeuk Tau in Fanling. The Tang lineage in Lung Yeuk Tau branched out from the main clan in Kam Tin. According to the genealogy of the Tang clan, the founding ancestor of Lung Yeuk Tau lineage was the eldest son of Wong Koo (a Southern Song princess), which explains why the soul tablet of Wong Koo is still worshipped in the Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall, the main ancestral hall of Lung Yeuk Tau. Ma Wat Wai was originally a walled village with brick walls constructed on the four sides and a watch tower on each corner. However owing to past developments, most of the walls and all four corner towers were demolished leaving only this very historic entrance tower. A stone tablet engraved with two Chinese characters denoting a place with flourishing growth of spring onions was embedded at the facade of the entrance tower. The entrance tower was declared a monument in 1994 and was fully restored with funds from the Government.