Talkback

How can the decline of Tai O be reversed?

Tai O's unique fishing and salt-making culture is diminishing, and diminishing fast, according to a government survey ('Last fishing village threatened as young abandon ageing population,' February 11).

The young generation wants to leave Tai O for better opportunities and some of the age-old practices are in danger of dying out.

The situation is made worse by the fact that Tai O does not have convenient links to the rest of Hong Kong and this makes it all the more difficult to attract expatriates, even though many expats like living on islands like Cheung Chau and Lamma. This transport problem also makes it difficult to develop Tai O as a popular tourist destination.

It is inevitable that the younger generation wants to get a taste of living in the heart of 'Asia's world city' and who can blame them? The government is promoting a better quality of life and there is the attraction of being turned into millionaires by investing in the stock and financial markets.

All these attractions make it extremely difficult to preserve some of the old practices. The once prosperous fishing village will one day lose its unique cultural roots. So what can we do to maintain a balance between the past and a vision for the future?

We should develop the eco-tourism and cultural preservation as a means of preserving the age-old practices that were mentioned in the report. We have to admit that these practices are no longer attractive enough for most of the younger generation. However, incentives must be provided for those still wishing to maintain these practices such as salt- making.