1967 to 1969.

In April 1966, a protest against a rise in Star Ferry fares became focused on the hunger strike of a deranged young man and led to riots in Kowloon. These started as spontaneous demonstrations by young people. The playfulness of these riots turned more destructive as looting and arson spread. One adult rioter was killed by police fire.
In 1967, riots began again as young followers of Mao besieged Government House, which was guarded by a handful of British soldiers. All Communist-owned buildings were placarded with anti-British slogans, the Bank of China's loudspeakers poured out more of the same.
As the disturbances continued through the summer, thousands of bombs were planted, which killed 15, including some children, and wounded many more. The colonial government finally stepped in with a measured reaction. Demonstrations were dispersed and the Bank of China's noise was drowned out by light music. Except to quell a disturbance on the frontier, where Red Guards killed some police, the army was not called upon.

The Hong Kong police lost ten killed and many wounded, but showed admirable restraint.

Leftist demonstrators at the front of Hong Kong's Government House chanted quotes from Mao's 'Little Red Book'. Tens of thousands of demonstrators queued all day to stick posters on the walls of Government House and present petitions, one by one, to the Governor's ADC.

The British Army site Erskine Camp, later to be renamed Kohima Camp, was adjacent to the village. The Diamond Scouting Jubilee Jamboree (Kohima Camp) (27 Dec 1986-01 Jan 1987) was held on the site that was to become the future home of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Because of its proximity to Shaw Studios and TVB many of their artists rent apartments in the village. Simon Yam Tat-Wah was a long term resident among others. In the 1960s due to its isolation and lack of transport facility, the local villagers set up a primary school for its inhabitants. The school was called Kwong Pui primary school.
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In late 1980s the Hong Kong Government anticipated a strong demand for university graduates to fuel an information based economy. Sze-Yuen Chung and the Governor of Hong Kong Edward Youde conceived the idea of adding a third university to the existing system. With the vision of establishing a world-class technology university, planning for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology began in 1986.

Construction began at the former British garrison Kohima Camp in Tai Po Tsai along the Clear Water Bay Peninsula. Originally scheduled to finish in 1994, the death of Youde in 1986 inspired escalated efforts and the opening date was changed to 1991 - just five years later.

Click on photo to enlarge
The photograph of Sai Kung was taken less than ten years after our departure. I am assuming Erskine/Kohima Camp is the group of buildings behind
the trees in the upper right where the new university now stands