Persistent informality and cultural heritage : stilt housing in Tai O Village

Abstract

This research presents findings from an ethnographic study of twenty stilt house resident households in Tai O Village, Hong Kong. Stilt housing is the largest remaining agglomeration of Tanka ethnicity settlement, dating back to around the 1630s. While it represents a long-standing cultural practice, it also faces significant threats. Families living in stilt houses endure uncertain tenure under colonial-era policies that allow only tolerated occupancy without official land leases. Contemporary development strategies further complicate the persistence of stilt houses as an informal land settlement pattern, as plans to promote Tai O as a tourism destination rely on the unique architectural heritage and intangible cultural heritage these houses represent. This situation creates a political impasse reminiscent of the colonial era, when British administrators hesitated to clear Tai O and other 'slum' areas. Today, the Hong Kong Government encounters similar political constraints, coupled with pressure to promote Tai O and other remnants of longstanding land occupation patterns to compete with other Asian metropolises in cultural heritage promotion. This paper reviews stilt housing practices through twenty (n=20) instances of stilt house dwelling, using a combination of physical digital surveying and summaries from ethnographic interviews. It will demonstrate the diversity and persistence of stilt housing in Tai O as both a threatened form of informality and a culturally valuable heritage.