BOOK REVIEWS
209
to the relationships among these lineages, so we do not know if the four villages constituted branch lineages or were simply members of the main lineages in Wu Kau Tang. Since they had no branch halls, one suspects that the latter explanation may be correct. The authors speculate at some length as to why at the time of removal two villages chose to establish new halls, while four other villages asked for spaces for halls but never furnished them as such and finally rented them out as factories. If this meant that four villages were actually giving up their halls, this would indicate a very significant social change. By piecing together information given at various points in the book, however, one discovers that these were the four villages whose halls were in Wu Kau Tang Village, which was not removed to Tai Po, whereas the two new halls replaced those that had been in two of the Plover Cove villages. As the halls of these four villages were located in Wu Kau Tang, then it might have been impossible for them to move the halls even if they had wanted to, as the main lineages were apparently located there. One wonders, then, why they were allocated spaces for halls in the resite area. One is left with one's own speculations, however, as we are not given enough information to discover what is really happening to the lineages, and why. An important aspect of the problem is, of course, the lineage property, which is not mentioned in the study. Did any of the lineages have any common property, and if they did was it exchanged for flats in Tai Po (as has been done in other such removals) or simply sold to the government and the money divided? If the property was sold and the profits divided, then this probably heralds the disintegration of the lineages with their common worship, as property is necessary to support lineage worship and other common functions. However, if the property was exchanged for property in Tai Po this would indicate that the members wished to maintain their lineages and the worship of their founding ancestors.
One hopes that it will be possible for the Christian Study Centre to continue to study the Plover Cove people and to learn how their adjustment to Tai Po progresses. Now that some information has been obtained on their religious practices shortly after the removal (when any changes which are in evidence may be indicative only of temporary disruption, rather than of long-term trends) it will be important to learn how they are affected
BOOK REVIEWS
209
to the relationships among these lineages, so we do not know if the four villages constituted branch lineages or were simply members of the main lineages in Wu Kau Tang. Since they had no branch halls, one suspects that the latter explanation may be correct. The authors speculate at some length as to why at the time of removal two villages chose to establish new halls, while four other villages asked for spaces for halls but never furnished them as such and finally rented them out as factories. If this meant that four villages were actually giving up their halls, this would indicate a very significant social change. By piecing to- gether information given at various points in the book, however, one discovers that these were the four villages whose halls were in Wu Kau Tang Village, which was not removed to Tai Po, whereas the two new halls replaced those that had been in two of the Plover Cove villages. As the halls of these four villages were located in Wu Kau Tang, then it might have been impossible for them to move the halls even if they had wanted to, as the main lineages were apparently located there. One wonders, then, why they were allocated spaces for halls in the resite area. One is left with one's own speculations, however, as we are not given enough information to discover what is really happening to the lineages, and why. An important aspect of the problem is, of course, the lineage property, which is not mentioned in the study. Did any of the lineages have any common property, and if they did was it exchanged for flats in Tai Po (as has been done in other such removals) or simply sold to the government and the money divided? If the property was sold and the profits divided. then this probably heralds the disintegration of the lineages with their common worship, as property is necessary to support lineage worship and other common functions. However, if the property was exchanged for property in Tai Po this would indicate that the members wished to maintain their lineages and the worship of their founding ancestors.
One hopes that it will be possible for the Christian Study Centre to continue to study the Plover Cove people and to learn how their adjustment to Tai Po progresses. Now that some information has been obtained on their religious practices shortly after the removal (when any changes which are in evidence may be indicative only of temporary disruption, rather than of long- term trends) it will be important to learn how they are affected
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