Round Table Villages (RTHK)

Landmark Name: Round Table Villages
Type: Refugee Villages
Association: Round Table Hong Kong
Locations: Several in Hong Kong

The Round Table Villages in Hong Kong were charitable housing projects initiated and funded by Round Table Hong Kong, founded in 1954, and developed between the 1960s and 1970s. Their purpose was to provide safe, permanent housing for people displaced by natural disasters or living in unsafe and inadequate conditions, particularly fishing communities, wooden-hut residents, and refugees. These projects remain among the most tangible and enduring examples of Round Table’s commitment to long-term, infrastructure-based community service.

Round Table First Village

  • Year completed: 1961
  • Location: Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong (Google Maps🔗)
  • Approx. coordinates: 22.2095° N, 114.0295° E

The Round Table First Village was constructed in 1961 following Typhoon Mary (1959) to rehouse families who had lost their homes, many of whom had previously lived on boats or in temporary shelters.

The village initially consisted of 42 single-storey houses and a cooperative building, accommodating 41 households. At completion, the village lacked electricity and running water; these utilities were added in 1963. In 1985, many buildings were upgraded with a second storey, reinforcing the village’s long-term residential role.

Residents were selected jointly by Round Table Hong Kong and the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, ensuring that housing was allocated to those most affected by displacement. One of the original units was reserved for use as a cooperative facility serving the village community.

Round Table Second Village

  • Year opened: 20 September 1964
  • Location: Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong (Google Maps🔗)
  • Approx. coordinates: 22.2088° N, 114.0308° E

The Round Table Second Village opened in 1964 and consisted of 11 double-storey houses. It was built to house fisherfolk and residents living in substandard wooden huts.

Funding was raised through international Round Table networks, including donations collected by members in the United Kingdom and other countries, demonstrating the strength of global Round Table fellowship and cross-border solidarity in supporting local community projects.

Round Table Third Village

  • Year established: 1967
  • Date completed: 13 January 1968
  • Location: Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong (Google Maps🔗)
  • Approx. coordinates: 22.2079° N, 114.0319° E

The Round Table Third Village (commonly known as Round Table III Village) was formally initiated in 1967 and completed on 13 January 1968. The project comprised 48 single-storey housing units and was constructed at a total cost of approximately HKD 210,000.

Of the total cost, HKD 60,000 was contributed by Round Table Hong Kong, with further funding provided by overseas Round Table associations in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Round Table Hong Kong took responsibility for site selection, architectural design, and tendering.

Residents contributed a modest monthly payment of HKD 11, allocated toward maintenance, repairs, and a communal savings scheme. The village remains officially recognised today, with its name preserved in local infrastructure such as the Round Table III Village Public Toilet.

Round Table Fourth Village

  • Year completed: 1975
  • Official name: Fourth Round Table Kin Refugee Rehousing Village
  • Location: Mui Wo, Lantau Island, Hong Kong (Google Maps🔗)
  • Approx. coordinates: 22.2649° N, 113.9978° E


Photograph of the Fourth Round Table Kin Refugee Rehousing Village (also known as the Fourth Round Table Village).

The Round Table Fourth Village was completed in 1975 near Mui Wo Pier on Lantau Island. It comprised approximately 30 housing units and was built to rehouse squatters and boat dwellers from the Mui Wo area.

Each unit was equipped with its own private kitchen and toilet, representing a notable improvement over earlier resettlement standards. Residents contributed a monthly maintenance fee of approximately HKD 40. The land was provided by the Hong Kong government, while funding, organisation, and delivery were led by Round Table Hong Kong.

Other Related Information

The Round Table Villages were developed during a period of severe housing pressure in post-war Hong Kong, driven by natural disasters, migration, and rapid population growth. Unlike government resettlement estates, these villages were entirely funded and delivered by a voluntary civic organisation, with Round Table Hong Kong overseeing financing, planning, design, and long-term sustainability.

Collectively, these projects demonstrate Round Table’s commitment to long-term, infrastructure-focused community service, supported by strong international cooperation within the movement and guided by a practical, non-political approach to social need. More than half a century later, the Round Table Villages remain a lasting testament to how Round Table fellowship can translate into enduring community benefit.