Villagers of Tung A Village – On, Keung, Uncle Yeung, Ying and Brother So (Left to right)
Perched on a windswept hilltop, the old walls of Leung Shuen Bay Public School resonate with a melody that was unheard during its decades of existence — the school’s very first anthem. In the cozy tea house of Tung A Village, elders who once roamed the school’s corridors now watch a video of themselves singing this newly composed anthem, imbued with deep nostalgia. “The artist from the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival told us that every other village school has a school anthem and she offered to compose one for us! It’s quite special to finally have our own school anthem after all these years.”
These villagers — On, Keung, Uncle Yeung, Ying, and Brother So — represent a tapestry of life stories woven through the classrooms of a school that served not just one, but four villages on High Island. In the 60s and 70s, children from Tung A, Pak A, Sha Kiu, and Pak Lap trekked along dusty paths to attend the only public school on the island. “Prior to the school’s establishment in 1947, only the Hakka communities had their private schools. Ying, the eldest of the Kong siblings, remembers, “Teachers would come from the city, stay for the week, and then return home.”
The school itself was a modest, single-story structure, stark white against the lush green backdrop, strategically located on the village road between Pak A and Tung A. It was a bustling hub of youthful energy, with classrooms so packed that each small space buzzed with over 40 eager young minds. Life at Leung Shun Bay Public School was defined by a rhythm of morning and afternoon sessions, augmented by evening classes to accommodate the schedules of fishing families. A basketball court in front of the school served as the focal point of recess activities. “After school, we would line up in three rows, each group heading to a different village,” Kong siblings recall with a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with the memory.
The adventures extended beyond the school gates. Ying laughs heartily as she recounts the teachers’ clever tactic for deterring unauthorized swims during school hours. “They’d mark us with ink, and if you went swimming, the ink would smear and give you away!” Despite their mischief, a deep respect for authority was ingrained; no one dared to challenge the teachers, fearing the sting of the ruler for any misbehavior.
As the villagers dispersed, the public school could not escape its fate of closure. For a long time, the only symbol of an alumnus was a white school uniform bearing the words “Public School.” Unexpectedly, more than thirty years later, a school anthem was born out of the Arts Festival. The lyrics revolve around the days of school life, resonating deeply and warmly with the islanders. “Crossing mountains and rivers, the road to school, carefree and warm-hearted…” Ying said, “At this age, having a school anthem to sing also brings joy.”
The online registration will be open from 2 Nov (Wed) 10am on a fortnightly basis, for the coming 2-4 weeks upon the system’s update. The registration schedule is as follows:
| Date Open for Registration | Newly Open Dates of the Programmes/Tours* |
|---|---|
| 2 Nov (Wed) | 16 Nov - 30 Nov |
| 16 Nov (Wed) | 1 Dec - 14 Dec |
| 30 Nov (Wed) | 15 Dec - 28 Dec |
| 14 Dec (Wed) | 29 Dec - 16 Jan |
| 3 Oct (Thu) | 13 Nov - 12 Jan |
