IN a land where historical buildings are bulldozed every day, historians have pulled off a near-miracle by finding nine such structures within a kilometre of each other, and making them into a heritage trail.
''This is the first heritage trail in Hong Kong,'' said Angus Miu Wah-on, principal assistant secretary for Recreation and Culture Branch and secretary of the board of trustees for the Lord Wilson Heritage trust, which has organised the project.
''It is about one kilometre long and includes some very interesting buildings that have never been open to the public before.'' Visitors to Ping Shan in the New Territories will be able to go for a short walk around the town, while absorbing some of the local history as they tour a walled village, ancestral halls, a study hall and Hong Kong's only ancient pagoda.
Just a few years ago many of those buildings, most of which are more than 100 years old, were either falling into disrepair or kept for the private use of the New Territories families who own them.
But with the injection of $1 million for renovation, provided by the Jockey Club, and the full co-operation of the powerful Tang clan which owns much of the land, the historical buildings are now in very good condition, Mr Miu said.
''One of the highlights is the Kun Ting study hall, which was constructed by the Tang clan in 1870.'' Mr Miu said the Tangs built it as a grand classroom for the young men studying for the imperial civil service examinations - which, if passed, would ensure wealth and power for the men and for their clan.
Even after the examinations were abolished in 1904, Tang family children continued to take their lessons in the impressive-looking hall, among its fine granite columns and skilfully crafted ancestral altar, until the late 1940s.
