bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Jason Wordie

Ambitious development plans to transform most of the New Territories adjacent to Shenzhen into the “Northern Metropolis” will – within a few years – permanently alter Hong Kong’s last sizeable semirural zone.
Allegedly intended to provide massively increased housing solutions for a population that has been in a consistent decline for several years, overall rationale for the Northern Metropolis scheme – like much else in contemporary Hong Kong – will only become apparent with the ripeness of time.
While the project’s sheer ambitious scale surpasses anything previously envisaged, transformational development in the northern New Territories is nothing new; well over a century ago, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Kwu Tung and surrounding areas experienced sustained residential development that continued until the Japanese invasion in 1941.
Even before the Convention of Peking lease – which created the New Territories – was concluded in 1898, bird shooting in these areas was popular with recreational hunters, who came up from Hong Kong for a few days at a time, usually by launch.

Snipe, ducks and other water birds bagged in the Deep Bay shallows and surrounding wetland areas found their way into game pie and other tasty, now largely forgotten dishes, as various period memoirs attest.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway line, which linked urban Kowloon with the Chinese frontier at Lo Wu, made the previously inaccessible northern New Territories a commuter possibility.
A Hong Kong amateur historian dead 35 years but whose work still resonates
Despite, or perhaps because of, its remoteness from the urban districts, the northern New Territories – especially around Fanling – attracted numerous European residents from this time.
In her chatty memoir China To Me (1944), American author Emily Hahn recalled her friend, the Jardine, Matheson and Co. senior executive J.J. Paterson, as “[…] a famous taipan who had been in China all his life, and who preferred to live miles from town in a bungalow from which he could go out shooting or walking in his garden, or play golf.
“Once in a while, when his chosen mode of living all alone palled on him, he sent out invitations to everyone he liked, and had a real bang-up party”. Some old bungalows still remain, hidden away behind massive trees.

As Hahn noted, Fanling’s extensive golf courses, first laid out in 1910-11 on disused agricultural land, were part of the area’s attraction – and they remain so today.
As the northern New Territories were even more remote in the 1920s, golfers tended to make a weekend of it when they came out to Fanling – many still do. Controversial resumption of part of the historic Fanling Golf Course – despite well-articulated opposition by various concern groups – will inevitably diminish the area’s appeal.
British Army camps were a noted feature of the area from pre-war times; transferred to the People’s Liberation Army at the 1997 handover, most are still in use today.

Unexpected heritage links to long-departed regiments can be found dotted around the northern New Territories if one knows where to look; dry weather, or an unchecked hill-fire, sometimes expose them from the undergrowth.
Regimental insignia, usually modelled on a cap-badge, were picked out in whitewashed stones – Crest Hill at Lo Wu has several examples, and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps badge can still be seen on the hillside behind the army camp at Kwan Tei.
Military surveys renamed the area’s streams after major rivers on the Indian subcontinent, such as the Ganges, Beas and Indus; low ranges of scrub-covered hills became the Cotswolds, Mendips, Chilterns and a few other toponymical borrowings from scenic areas in Britain.

All are now obsolete – only Beas River remains in general usage.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club premises at Beas River are marked by a stone archway and gates, which were relocated when Jardine, Matheson and Co.’s premises in Causeway Bay were redeveloped in the 1920s, one of Hong Kong’s earliest – and most enduring – heritage conservation initiatives.


How Hong Kong’s New Territories offered unique attractions a century ago

Fanling’s extensive golf courses, first laid out in 1910-11 on disused agricultural land, were part of the New Territories’ attraction for Europeans in Hong Kong a century ago – and they remain so today. Photo: SCMP

Lo Wu (left of the river) in Hong Kong, and Shum Chun (right of the river), the mainland Chinese area that gave Shenzhen its name, in the early 1900s.

A view of Kam Tsin Lodge, a luxurious estate in the New Territories, in 1987. The estate was the country home of the late Douglas Clague, a taipan in his heyday. Photo: SCMP

More than 120 soldiers of the British Forces participate in the annual Khud Race on Nameless Hill, near Fanling, in 1985. Photo: SCMP

A view of Fanling in 1977. Photo: P.Y. Tang

Magazines

PostMag

Short Reads

Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

European visitors from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon would head to the New Territories for days at a time, aided by the new Kowloon-Canton Railway line
Hunting, golfing and military responsibilities would have been some of the most common draws, while some just wanted to get away from it all


European visitors from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon would head to the New Territories for days at a time, for hunting, golfing, military responsibilities – or sometimes just to get away from it all.


History

Old Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Northern Metropolis

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Then & Now

Then & Now | How Hong Kong’s New Territories offered unique attractions a century ago

European visitors from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon would head to the New Territories for days at a time, aided by the new Kowloon-Canton Railway line Hunting, golfing and military responsibilities would have been some of the most common draws, while some just wanted to get away from it all

European visitors from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon would head to the New Territories for days at a time, aided by the new Kowloon-Canton Railway line

Hunting, golfing and military responsibilities would have been some of the most common draws, while some just wanted to get away from it all