Former Residence of Yip Ting-sai

Former Residence of Yip Ting-sai

The Former Residence of Yip Ting-sai was built around 1908, and its exterior was modeled after the residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Tsui Hang Village, Zhongshan. The historical background and architectural style of the Former Residence of Yip Ting-sai are of great significance. It was once rated as a Grade II historic building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office of Hong Kong, and in November 2009, the government gazetted its upgrade to a declared monument of Hong Kong.

Mr. Yip Ting-sai (1879–1943), also known as Tin-fat and styled Guangxin, was the eighth-generation ancestor of the Yip clan in Lin Ma Hang, Sha Tau Kok. In his early years, he went to Thailand as an apprentice tailor, later established a garment factory, contracted military uniform production, and accumulated considerable wealth. According to information from the Chinese Association in Thailand, Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the Chinese Association in Thailand in 1907 to garner overseas Chinese support for revolutionary activities, and Yip Ting-sai was one of the co-founders. Later, he served as the President of the Siam Tongmenghui and Director of the Zhenxing Bookstore Society, actively promoting the development of the local Tongmenghui and contributing to the revolutionary movement. In 1936, Yip Ting-sai returned to Lin Ma Hang with his family to settle down, and he passed away in 1943.

The Former Residence of Yip Ting-sai is a three-bay, two-story building with a porch on the front facade supported by square pillars that uphold the balcony on the upper floor. The residence is mainly constructed with blue bricks and timber, and the roof features a hip-and-gable tiled design. The front entrance is adorned with Chinese auspicious pattern murals, while the first-floor balcony is decorated with glazed vases, blending both Chinese and Western architectural elements.

Residence of Ip Ting-sz

Must-visit reason: One of Hong Kong’s most significant former residences of notable figures