Tuen Mun - History

History

In the Tang Dynasty, a navy town, Tuen Mun Tsang (屯門鎮) was established in Nam Tau, which lies across Deep Bay. Tuen Mun and the rest of Hong Kong was under its protection.

A major clan, To (陶), brought the name Tuen Mun to the area. They migrated from Jiangxi and established a village Tuen Mun Tsuen (屯門村) late in the Yuan Dynasty. As more and more villages were established, the village was renamed to Tuen Mun Tai Tsuen (屯門大村), which means the largest village. As yet more villages were established, a market town of Tuen Mun Hui (屯門墟) (now Tuen Mun Kau Hui) was established. This town lies where present-day Tuen Mun Kau Hui is situated.

Portuguese settlers had occupied the town in 1514 and were expelled by the Ming Dynasty navy in 1521. This battle is known as Battle of Tamao (the Portuguese name for Tuen Mun). A year later a second encounter was fought (Second Battle of Tamao), the Ming were victorious again.

Tuen Mun remained an important town of coastal defence until the start of British rule in 1898. When the British took over the New Territories from the Qing government in this year, the area was renamed Castle Peak, and Tuen Mun Hui to Tsing Shan Hui (青山墟) or Castle Peak Hui. The name Tuen Mun, however, continued to be used by those living in the area.

In 1965, a "Castle Peak New Town" was planned. It was later renamed to Tuen Mun New Town and implemented from 1970 and many buildings are on the reclamation on the Castle Peak Bay. Its name was officially changed back to Tuen Mun in 1972.