The following is a translation of the characters:
"The Memorial Stone of the Men Mo Temple was replaced by this stone in the 12th moon, 30th Year of To Kwong (January 1850).
"The Other Chinese characters found on the stone read: tablets were placed in position (at the front entrance) in the 12th moon, 30th Year of To Kwong."
The Man Mo Temple has lost none of its popularity to-day among the kai-fong of Taipingshan. There have been many changes, however, both in its appearance and ceremonial. Part of the building has been handed over to the Confucian Society, which now carries on its work there.
Priests no longer offer prayers on behalf of their flock. Caretakers are now in charge of the temples, and there is a Temple Committee to keep an eye on the caretakers. These caretakers are not elected because of their spirituality. They buy their positions with hard cash, which is distributed among local charities. As high as $80,000 has been bid for the famous Hau Wong Temple in Kowloon and the Man Mo Miu, most valuable house of prayer on the island, has been brought up to $10,000.
The caretaker manages to get his money back and more, from the offerings of those who come to burn joss sticks and appeal to the gods to bless their labours.
The birthdays of the gods in the Man Mo Miu are celebrated by musical festivals. Even to-day, thousands attend these rites and it is no uncommon sight to see Ladder Street and Hollywood Road blocked to traffic by the huge crowd that comes to pray and enjoy the music.
It is worthy of note that between $70,000 and $80,000 is collected from the temples on the island and mainland each year. The receipts from the Man Mo Temple go to the Tung Wah Hospital, which last year received from the Temple Committee, the sum of $17,000.
It is generally conceded that Kowloon City was the first Chinese village to be built in that area now known as the New Territories. The exact year in which the village was established is not known, but it is safe to say that community life was enjoyed there more than 600 years ago.
Old Kowloon City, as it stands to-day, contains much of interest to the student of China and its people. The native village also offers a striking contrast to the modern three-storey shops, just a stone's throw away.
Surrounded by foodstalls and decrepit houses, and adjoining the ancient wall which once protected the inhabitants from the depredations of bandits, stands the Hau Wong Temple - oldest known house of the gods either on the land or in Britain's mainland possessions.
No one knows the age of the Hau Wong Miu. It drew crowds of worshippers long before the British occupation. No records of the temple have been kept, and even the oldest caretaker knows little of its early history.
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