環保署轄下的鄉郊保育辦公室去年成立，荔枝窩鄉郊復育工作是優先推動的項目之一，適逢此地十年一度太平清醮，該辦公室遂協調各持份者，策劃一系列紀錄、展覧、導賞及工作坊體驗等活動；硏究及製作機構思網絡獲委聘承辦。
香港750多萬人口絕中大部分居住在24%的已建設區，過著典型城市人生活，鄉郊可能多被理解為假日消閒好去處。香港政府於1970年代中，制定了《郊野公園條例》及《城市規劃條例》，指導了往後保護戶外康樂用地、郊野及較高生態價值地區的政策發展。
「鄉郊保育」，是在鄉郊推行保護自然生態，活化其村落建築環境，以及保育人文資源的工作，可說是摸著石頭過河的新課題。
位於沙頭角半島的慶春約村落，包括了荔枝窩、梅子林、蛤塘、牛屎湖、三椏、鎖羅盆，及小灘，有近400年歷史，甚至更早已有另一族群在此居住；但香港百多年來城市發展的重心在港島及九龍，北區就變成遠離市區。1960年代，經濟環境變遷，傳統耕種難以謀生，慶春約村落居民因而大舉往外發展，村人口縮減，各建設日漸疏於打理，甚至一度荒廢。
保育，是透過不同方法讓一個地方的天然及人文資源得以永續發展，過程應讓更多人參與，從中領會這地方的文化價值。然而這方向沒有放諸四海而皆準的方法，正是「道可道，非常道」的狀態，因而更需考量各獨有情況而因地制宜，又是「常無，欲以觀其妙；常有，欲以觀其徼」，簡言之：觀察入微，方能切中事理。道家思想，與西方近代保育觀念，有相似之處，也始於「認識」。
人類學提出的「田野考察」同是追求觀察入微的硏究方法，即走進有關地方和社群，以更接近他們的角度去理解生活。是次田野考察的紀錄，集結成「鄉郊保育文化之旅」，當中包括：裝置展覽、網上伸延資料說明，及打醮相關紀錄，期望有助外界前來經驗和認識這裏。
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Background
The Countryside Conservation Office of the Environmental Protection Department was set up last year. The rural conservation work in Lai Chi Wo is one of the priority projects. Coinciding with the once in a decade "Da Chui Festival", the office took the opportunity to coordinate various stakeholders, planning a series of activities such as documentary, exhibition, guided tours, and workshops. SEE Network was commissioned for the research, planning and production of the events.
Curatorial Statement
Among the 7.5 million inhabitants in Hong Kong, most of them are living in the built-up areas (24% of the area of Hong Kong), leading a typical urban life. Countryside is considered a good place for leisure time. In the mid-70s, the Hong Kong Government enacted the "Country Parks Ordinance" and the "Town Planning Ordinance" to guide future policy formulation regarding outdoor recreational areas, countryside and areas of higher ecological value.
"Countryside conservation" is a new task to promote the protection of natural ecology, restoration of architectures in village areas, and the preservation of cultural heritage. It takes time and experiences to learn and improve.
Hing Chun Yeuk is located in Sha Tau Kok peninsula, which includes villages in Lai Chi Wo, Mui Tsz Lam, Kap Tong, Ngau Shi Wu, Sam A, So Lo Pun and Siu Tan. It has a history of nearly 400 years. It is believed another ethnic group has lived there even earlier. However, the focus of urban development in Hong Kong in the past century has been on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, the North District remained far away from town centres. In the 1960s, the economic environment changed, traditional farming became difficult to earn a living. Villagers moved out of Hing Chun Yeuk then, villages were gradually abandoned while population shrank.
Conservation is the sustainable development of natural and human resources in a place through different methods. The process should involve more and more people to appreciate the cultural value of the place. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approaches to serve this aim. When no words can tell a definite way, we must consider the unique circumstances and adapt to specific conditions. As the old saying goes, "observe meticulously with inaction, appreciate the order of things when you act", Taoist thoughts coincide with modern conservation concepts, that they both begin with "understanding".
"Fieldwork" is an inquisitive research method in anthropology that enables meticulous observations. It purposes going into the communities and relevant places to understand the way of life and environments from a closer perspective. The records of this fieldwork research were collected and to be shown in "A journey of Cultural Conservation". It includes exhibitions, detailed online illustrations, and records of Ta Chiu Festival. It is hoped that it helps to invite people to come, experience and understand this place.
