When Sham Tseng is mentioned, what comes to your mind? The first thing may be its roast goose. However, only a few people know that Sham Tseng was originally a Hakka village. Many people pay a visit to enjoy the sea view and the magnificent Tsing Ma Bridge. It is difficult to imagine that Sham Tseng was a very simple Hakka village a few decades ago. Because of its unique location and history of development, it varies much from the stereotype of other Hakka villages in Hong Kong. It has become an attraction for both local and international tourists.

In the old days, chopping firewood was a significant part of the villagers’ livelihood apart from farming in Sham Tseng Village. Since the completion of Castle Peak Road in Sham Tseng, the brewery, textile factory, and bakery moved in one after another, transforming Sham Tseng into a small industrial city. Following the arrival of the factories, the construction of Tuen Mun Road in the 1970s also dramatically changed the villagers' lives. Sham Tseng Village had to be relocated to make way for Tuen Mun Road and thus the Government built new houses in the mountainside for villagers.

In order to develop deep into the Sham Tseng villagers' culture and customs, The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) launched ‘“Beyond the Village” Cultural Heritage Scheme’. Through a series of case studies and interviews with villagers, the book shows the ways to conduct interviews with the villagers and gather their views as parts of the oral history of Sham Tseng. Many interviewees had vivid memories about their childhood, family, native place, migration from Wuhua and Chiu Chow, education, work and career, marriage, residence and social intercourse in Sham Tseng.

They also witnessed the integration of Hakka and Chiu Chow cultures. With more Chiu Chow people living in the area, their beliefs and food culture also grew deep in the Sham Tsang. Fu’s clan in Sham Tseng would cook and dine at Tsing Fai Tong. The villagers would dance Hakka Unicorn to trace their roots and return to Wuhua to worship their ancestors; the trip would be regarded by their clan to commemorate their ancestors and pay respects to their achievements. The villagers witnessed the rapid development of Sham Tsang. The farmland was replaced by small houses and factories, which served as a prelude to modernization. However, the traditional beliefs and customs of the Hakka Village had been preserved in non-material aspects.