Kau Tam Tso

🏯 【Kau Tam Tso (九担租)】 is a historic Hakka village located southeast of Wu Kau Tang in the North District of the New Territories, with a history tracing back to the mid-Qing Dynasty. Originally inhabited by families of the Li and Lau clans, the village once comprised over a dozen houses. In the early days, villagers relied heavily on water transport, taking small boats from Chung Mei to travel to Tai Po. However, following the migration of local young men to the United Kingdom for work in the 1960s, only six households remained by the 1970s, and the village eventually became completely deserted. In recent years, Kau Tam Tso has gained fame for its spectacular autumn foliage. Every year from December to January, the Sweet Gum trees (Liquidambar formosana) turn a vibrant red, establishing the village as another premier autumn foliage hotspot in Hong Kong alongside Tai Tong. These tall and upright Sweet Gum trees form a magnificent “red screen” that stands out beautifully against the surrounding emerald green hills, with some visitors describing it as the “Kyoto of Hong Kong.” Since it takes only about 10 minutes to walk from the Wu Kau Tang bus stop to the Sweet Gum woods along a flat, paved path, it has become a highly popular and easy sightseeing route for families and beginners alike. —

📍 Basic Information

Location: Wu Kau Tang, North District, New Territories (historically integrated within the broader sub-district rural administration of the North District)

Type: Indigenous Village

Administrative Division: Part of the rural areas under the Rural Representative election system

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🧭 Historical Background

The village name originates from the early practice where villagers paid “nine piculs of rice” as rent to the landlord to lease the land for farming.

Its history can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty, and the inhabitants were predominantly Hakka people.

The economy was traditionally based on agriculture, cultivating paddy rice and vegetables, as well as raising poultry.

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📍 Geographic Location & Village Context

Kau Tam Tso is situated in the northeastern New Territories of Hong Kong, nestled in the mountainous area between Wu Kau Tang and Sam A Tsuen.

It lies within the boundaries of Plover Cove Country Park; owing to its remote location, transport relies mostly on hiking or green minibuses.

The settlement was established by the Li and Lau clans during the mid-Qing Dynasty, originally featuring more than ten village houses.

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📜 Characteristics of the Kau Tam Tso Land System

Feature Description

Name of Land Rent The term “Kau Tam Tso” (literally meaning “nine piculs rent”) stems from the annual requirement to pay nine piculs of rice (approximately 540 kg) as land rent.

Unit of Rent A “picul” (擔) is an ancient unit of weight equivalent to roughly 60 kg.

Land Use Rights Villagers held the right to cultivate the land but did not own the underlying land title.

Fixed Rent System The land rent remained stable and did not fluctuate with changes in land value or crop yields.

Role of Government The Qing government encouraged the reclamation of wasteland through leasing and managed land use via this structured rent system.

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🕰️ Historical Evolution

Period Events & Institutional Evolution

Mid-Qing Dynasty Villages in the New Territories such as Kau Tam Tso began to form, with residents relying entirely on farming for their livelihood.

1898 The United Kingdom and the Qing government signed the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, leasing the New Territories for 99 years.

Early British Rule The colonial government retained the Qing land rent system, registering “Kau Tam Tso” as a formal type of land lease and tenure recognition.

Mid-20th Century The village experienced significant outward migration, causing it to gradually become deserted, though the institutional terminology remained preserved in historical land leases.

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🏯 Village Features

Ancestral Hall: Dedicated to honoring ancestors and hosting traditional rituals.

Feng Shui Woods: Serving as a natural protective barrier symbolizing the safeguarding of the village.

Stone Houses: Preserving traditional stone-masonry structures.

Village Paths: Narrow footpaths that retain the original historic layout of the settlement.

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👥 Community & Culture

Villagers are mostly indigenous inhabitants who hold traditional Small House rights (Ding rights).

Traditional festivals, including the Jiao Festival (Tai Ping Ching Chiu), continue to be celebrated in connection with the wider lineage.

The community maintains a tight-knit, lineage-based social structure.

Boasting significant ecological and tourism value, the autumn and winter Sweet Gum foliage attracts crowds of visitors, making it a highly popular hiking destination.

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🏗️ Modern Challenges

Urbanization: Facing long-term pressures related to land acquisition and rural redevelopment.

Cultural Preservation: Balancing historical conservation with modern development has become a prominent issue.

Depopulation: The migration of younger generations to urban areas has led to a sustained decline in the active resident population.

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Feature	Description
Name of Land Rent	The term “Kau Tam Tso” (literally meaning “nine piculs rent”) stems from the annual requirement to pay nine piculs of rice (approximately 540 kg) as land rent.
Unit of Rent	A “picul” (擔) is an ancient unit of weight equivalent to roughly 60 kg.
Land Use Rights	Villagers held the right to cultivate the land but did not own the underlying land title.
Fixed Rent System	The land rent remained stable and did not fluctuate with changes in land value or crop yields.
Role of Government	The Qing government encouraged the reclamation of wasteland through leasing and managed land use via this structured rent system.

Period	Events & Institutional Evolution
Mid-Qing Dynasty	Villages in the New Territories such as Kau Tam Tso began to form, with residents relying entirely on farming for their livelihood.
1898	The United Kingdom and the Qing government signed the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, leasing the New Territories for 99 years.
Early British Rule	The colonial government retained the Qing land rent system, registering “Kau Tam Tso” as a formal type of land lease and tenure recognition.
Mid-20th Century	The village experienced significant outward migration, causing it to gradually become deserted, though the institutional terminology remained preserved in historical land leases.