sitting it out

Not many people in Hong Kong have access to private outdoor spaces where they can sit and enjoy some fresh air. As a result, many villages in the New Territories have designated communal ‘sitting-out areas’, usually provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, that are accessible by anyone. This post describes all such facilities in my immediate neighbourhood, starting with the most northerly village, Siu Hang:

In addition to the benches, two of which are covered, there is a line of three spring-mounted animals that can be ridden by small children. In the foreground is a table with an engraved Chinese chess board, and two chairs for the players.

There are quite a few prohibitions regarding the use of such sitting-out areas:

• No damage of plants;
• No lying on benches (this would appear to be impossible);
• No bird feeding;
• No cycling;
• No dogs allowed;
• No drying of linen and clothes.

There are also separate ‘no smoking’ signs on the surrounding walls.

The next area is nearby, located next to the Drainage Services access road that runs alongside the Ng Tung River:

There are no identifying signs here, and therefore no prohibitions, but I will refer to it as the Siu Hang San Tsuen Sitting-Out Area (san tsuen means ‘new village’ in Cantonese, and such extension villages are quite rare). Stone benches like the ones here are uncommon—I know of just one other location with this kind of seating. I like to sit on the bench in the foreground and watch the tower cranes in action in the area formerly known as Ma Shi Po (‘horseshit area’).

The next photo shows the current state of the sitting-out area in the village where I live:

The original metal benches, which you can see on the right, are being replaced. And there is a basketball court, frequently in use, in the background. This location is designated a ‘children’s playground’, which appears to be standard practice wherever the facilities for children include a complex structure with some kind of slide.

I often take a break in the San Uk Sitting-Out Area, even though it is adjacent to Sha Tau Kok Road, which as the only road out of Fanling to the east carries a lot of traffic:

Both gazebos house Chinese chess tables and have eight sides (eight is the lucky number in Chinese culture). There are springy animals for children to ride on the right.

After crossing the main road, the next location reached is the Tung Kok Wai Children’s Playground, which has the most elaborate children’s play apparatus in this collection:

Note the Chinese chess table in the covered structure on the left.

I’ve not been able to find a name for the next area, mainly because I’m not sure which village it is located in, and there doesn’t appear to be an identifying sign:

It is directly opposite the front of the Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall. I rarely stop here, because the benches are distinctly uncomfortable to sit on (they’re quite low to the ground, and the backs are vertical rather than being swept back, like the standard benches in other locations). There are no children’s facilities and no adult fitness apparatus, despite the large open space in the photo.

The Ma Wat Wai Children’s Playground is so small that I took this photo from outside the area:

The final area that I’m covering in this report is the Wing Ning Wai Sitting-Out Area:

This is my favourite place to sit down for a short rest, mainly because not only can you not see a road from anywhere here; you can’t even hear one! And there are two majestic trees here too, one of which grows at a 45-degree angle, despite its size.

This is also the largest sitting-out area hereabouts, which is why I’ve included a second photo, taken about halfway down:

You can see how large the second tree is, and the rear entrance to Wing Ning Wai can be seen on the right (I often walk through the wai, the walls of which are almost non-existent now). The only covered seating here is at the far end.

And that’s a tour of my neighbourhood, which makes quite a pleasant walk, especially if you also take in the historical sites here.