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The rehabilitation ceremony of Fan Sin Temple at Wun Yiu Heung in Tai Po was held at the Temple today (November 5) to celebrate the completion of its restoration work.

The two hundred year-old Fan Sin Temple is the only temple in Hong Kong dedicated to Fan Tai Sin Sze, the patron saint of potters. The timber plaque in the main hall of the temple, carved in the Gengxu year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty (1790), is the oldest surviving relic of the temple.

However, during a devastating fire in the mid-1970s, many historic relics were damaged. The paintings above the entrance were repainted when the temple was repaired in 1976, after the fire. The historic relics which survive include a timber plaque, dated 1790, and four inscribed stone tablets commemorating the restorations of 1897, 1925, 1964 and 1976. The last full restoration work was completed in October 2000, under the supervision of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and the Architectural Services Department.

Speaking at the rehabilitation ceremony, Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Lolly Chiu, noted that the Fan Sin Temple was declared as a monument under the Anitiquities and Monuments Ordiance late last year and funds were granted by the government for its restoration.

She said the Wun Yiu Pottery Kiln Site was the only historic kiln site found in Hong Kong that produced blue-and-white porcelain. The complete process of porcelain production was well preserved in the kiln site.

Ms Chiu said, "The discovery of this site offers us much valuable and useful information for the study of our local industrial development in the early years as well as the history of ceramic production in China.

"With a view to enhancing the understanding of local heritage among the community and promoting heritage tourism in Hong Kong, the government has been striving to preserve our cultural relics. At present, 70 buildings and sites of historical and archaeological interest have already been declared as monuments and protected under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance," said Ms Chiu.

Fan Sin Temple is a two-hall building with geometric decorations on both ends of the ridges. The right side-chamber of the front hall of the temple was once used as an office and common room for the principal and teachers of Wun Yiu Public School from the 1970s until the closure of the school in the 1990s. The left side-chamber of the front hall is used as a kitchen. The left side-chamber of the main hall has served as the office of the Ma Sai On Memorial Sports Association since 1982. This chamber commemorates Mr Ma Sai-on, a member of the twentieth generation of the Ma clan.

The Wun Yiu Pottery Kiln Site was built in the Ming Dynasty. After the purchase of the kilns in the thirteenth year of Kangxi reign (1674) by the Ma clan, the porcelain industry continued to prosper. In order to accord better protection to local potters, Ma Coi-yuen, a sixteenth generation member of the Ma clan, returned to Changle county, their homeland, to invite Fan Sin to come to Yu Yiu to bestow blessings on the potters.

According to local legends Fan Tai Sin Sze refers to three brothers, namely Fan Yat-long, Fan Yi-long and Fan San-long. They were the first to use clay to make earthen ware bowls. These later replaced wooden bowls came into daily use. As most of the villagers in Wun Yiu in the past were engaged in the pottery industry, the worship of Fan Tai Sin Sze was very popular.

Also officiating at today's rehabilitation ceremony were Chairman of Heung Yee Kuk, New Territories, Legislative Councillor, Mr Lau Wong Fat; Acting Director of Architectural Services, Mr Kwan Pak Lam; Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Professor David Lung; Chairman of Tai Po District Council, Mr Cheung Hok Ming; Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Erika Hui; District Officer (Tai Po), Mr Lui Kin Fun, Frankie; District Lands Officer (Tai Po), Mr A L Ostheimer; Chief Superintendent, District Commander, Tai Po, Mr H K To; Chairman of Tai Po Tsat Yeuk Rural Committee, Mr Chan Hing; Vice-Chairman of Tai Po Rural Committee, Mr Man Chen Fai, and Member of Tai Po District Council, Mr Chan Siu Kuen.

End/Sunday, November 5, 2000

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