Villages in the New Territories – Lan Nai Wan Village

In the New Territories, some villages were removed to make way for infrastructure, such as the Lan Nai Wan Village and the Muk Min Ha Village.

Lan Nai Wan, a bay situated between the Sai Kung Peninsula and High Island, was also known as Man Yi Wan. Some villages were alongside the bay, including the Lan Nai Wan Village. There were four lineages in the Lan Nai Wan Village: the Lee, the Man, the Chau and the Chan. Most villagers farmed for a living, others left the village to work in Hong Kong and Kowloon, some became seamen or went further to the UK to make a living.

In 1969, the Government proposed the construction of the High Island Reservoir. The project connected Sai Kung Peninsula with High Island by constructing two dams to close off Kwun Mun Channel. Seawater was drained, and fresh water was filled into the new reservoir. Villagers finally agreed the Government’s proposal to move to Man Yee Wan New Village on the reclaimed land in Sai Kung town. The settlement was hence flooded. Lan Nai Wan Village stayed forever sunken.