Exploration of Regeneration and Connectivity in Traditional Hakka Villages in Hong Kong's New Territories - Case Studies of Lai Chi Wo Village, Mui Tsz Lam Village, and Kap Tang Village in Sha Tau Kok

Since the 1990s, with the acceleration of urbanization, residents of traditional Hakka villages such as Lai Chi Wo have gradually migrated to urban centers or overseas, leading to the abandonment of these villages. Since 2013, government-led agricultural and cultural revitalization programs have enabled some villages to achieve self-sufficiency. However, these programs have predominantly focused on the development within the villages themselves, neglecting the planning of the "green belts" — extensive forests and agricultural lands between villages — thereby exacerbating the dispersion of these settlements. This study explores how to utilize the cultural and material resources of Hakka villages in Hong Kong's New Territories to address the issue of village separation. The authors employ an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on principles from the structure of DNA in molecular biology to extract representative materials and elements from traditional Hakka villages. By simulating the functions of carbon and hydrogen bonds in DNA, we redefine the connections between Hakka villages, designing strategies to integrate these dispersed systems. This approach not only enhances the complementarity and integration between villages but also opens new avenues for interaction among isolated villages. By redefining the connections between the villages, the study promotes the transformation of isolated villages into interconnected, flourishing communities, revitalizes the Hakka cultural landscape, and constructs a coherent, self-sufficient ecological network.