Tsing Kung Run 2021

Event Period : 2021-02-12 to 2021-05-31 (Hong Kong Time)

Registration Fee : HK$250

Participants must complete the entire Castle Peak Road which starts from Sham Shui Po to Sheung Shui, a distance of 32 miles (about 53km).

Runners may complete the distance in not more than 6 goes, with required selfie photos showing their bib number at designated scenic locations.

Results must be submitted via Strava, emailed before 11:59pm 5th Jun, 2021.

Finisher's gifts (including a towel and flask) are claimable 4 weeks after the whole activity is finished.

Contact：hk.race@biji.co

Landmarks are arranged along the route. Participants must take photos with all landmarks and upload them to Strava as a record. The BIB and the landmarks must be clearly shown on the photos. Participants are required to write the username of Strava on the BIB.

感謝 的大力支持!!

贊助參加者50元現金禮券，為你32咪的旅程打氣！

活動期間​經過青山公路沿線的鴻福堂門市，使用現金券享用補給，再繼續挑戰！

現金券不設找續，詳情參閱現金券背面細則。

沿路13個指定地標 13 Checkpoints along the route：

* 任何一間鴻福堂門市 Any​ Store of Hung Fook Tong

1. 深水埔青山道3號 No. 3 Castle Peak Road

2. 嘉頓公司 Garden Company

3. 荃灣中染大厦 / 8咪半 CDW Building / 8½, Tsuen Wan

4. 汀九村 Ting Kau Village

5. 深井馬灣碼頭 Ma Wan Pier, Sham Tseng

6. 大欖涌牌坊 Tai Lam Chung Archway

7. 舊咖啡灣 Cafeteria Old Beach

8. 新墟村牌坊 San Hui Archway

9. 洪水橋輕鐵站 Hung Shui Kiu LRT

10. 元朗又新街 Yau San Street, Yuen Long

11. 米埔 Mai Po

12. 古洞石仔嶺花園 Dills Corner Garden, Kwu Tung

13. 北區馬術比賽紀念公園 Equestrian Events Memorial Garden

參加者可於鴻福堂門市憑活動紀錄兌換港幣$50現金禮券。
Participants receive a HK$50 cash voucher redeemable at Hung Fook Tong stores along the route.

Castle Peak Road in Chinese is 青山公路 and it is pronounced as Tsing Shan Kung Lo. Thus the local runners always simplify to Tsing Kung ( 青公 ). Mostly Tsing Kung refers to the part between Tsuen Wan West and Sham Shing Tuen Mun. Of course, the entire Castle Peak Road is much longer.

After the British took over the New Territories in 1899, they started road construction to this new territories for development and military purpose as well. After the completion of Tai Po Road, the first project of Castle Peak Road started in 1908 connecting Castle Peak to Ping Shan and the entire Castle Peak Road from Sham Shui Po to Sheung Shui was completed by the end of 1919.

It runs through the New Territories from Kowloon. The starting point is at the junction of Tai Po Road and Kweilin Street in Sham Shui Po, and the ending point is near Kam Tsin Village of Sheung Shui, and then it connected to the north end of Tai Po Road. With a total length of about 32 miles, Castle Peak Road is the longest road in Hong Kong.

​In 1970s, in order to distinguish the sections of the New Territories from the urban area, the government only kept the Kowloon section called "Castle Peak Road". All the sections in the north of Butterfly Valley Road are attached  section names behind "Castle Peak Road".

​Therefore,  now we have 22 sections of Castle Peak Road as follows:

Event Period : 2021-02-12 to 2021-05-31 (Hong Kong Time)
Registration Fee : HK$250

Overseas runners are welcome to this event. They can run in their own countries.

The postal fee of finisher's gifts is included in the registration fee. Participants are required to provide a valid postal address. The organizer is not responsible for any loss.

Runners must complete a distance of 32 miles (about 53km), not more than 6 goes, in their own countries.

Take selfie photos showing the BIB in the start, finish and one place during the run. Please upload the selfie photos to the related Strava activity and share the hyperlink(s) via email (hk.race@biji.co) before 11:59pm 5th Jun, 2021.

Finisher's gifts include a minibus keychain, souvenir towel, 400ml soft flask, and (for the first 300 registrants) New Balance performance socks.

Minibus Sign Keychain in Chinese calligraphy with customized finishing time.

Souvenir Towel in Hong Kong Style with the pattern of Suzhou Numerals

1) 400ml Soft Flask with Tsing Kung Run logo
2) The first 300 registrants can get a pair of New Balance Performance Socks

Suggested Gears

Participants are suggested to bring enough food and drinks , and a mobile phone with a valid network, some cash and Octopus card when start. Participants must apply appropriate gears which must be in good condition for the activity.

Number BIB

Participants can choose to show their number BIB or not. Participants are required to write the username of Strava on the BIB.

No Littering

No littering is allowed on the course. Any participant is found littering, his result will be disqualified. Please hold trash until you arrive at the finish line.

Route Marking

There is no marking along routes. All participants should read the route before they start.

Timing & Result

For Virtual Races, Timing will be supported by mobile app TRAILME or STRAVA. For the STRAVA races, participants should synchronize the record in their GPX devices with STRAVA, or use the STRAVA app to record the activity directly. We only accept the Elapsed Time shown in the Strava activity. Participants should ensure the power of their devices can last for the whole activity. Any activity record other than the suggested APP is not accepted.

Navigation

All the route is prepared on Viewranger. Participants can activate the navigation on Viewranger. Participants may also upload the GPX file of the route to their favourable devices.

No Shortcut

All participants must follow the route. Participants will be disqualified if they are found running shortcut.

No Appeal

The organizer’s decision on any disqualification is final.

Emergency

In case of emergency, please call the police.

Adverse weather

Participants are recommended to check the weather forecast from Hong Kong Observatory. Do not start in case of the following adverse weather condition (typhoon, heavy rain, thunderstorm). If participants face adverse weather conditions during the activity , please stop and stay in a well-structured shelter.

• Participants should read the details of the activity and acknowledge the activity is physically demanding, and may cause physical injury or even death.
• Participants should be well trained and physically fit for the activity. For any question, please consult medical professionals in advance.
• Participants who are pregnant or with chronic diseases, like heart disease and high blood pressure, are not recommended to participate in the activity.
• During the activity, participants are suggested to be attentive to their own physical conditions. If they feel unwell, please stop immediately.
• Participants must comply with the traffic regulation and pay attention to vehicles when crossing the road.
• Participants must bear full responsibility for their health, safety and third-party liabilities during the activity. Participants are advised to purchase their own insurance cover if necessary. The organizer, affiliated corporation(s) and all of the staff will not be liable for the health, safety and third-party liabilities of participants.

General Rules

• Participants must study the event rules and regulations carefully. Upon submission of your application of entry, a participant is deemed to have accepted all Terms and Conditions of the Event, the Official Rules as stipulated and also to those that may be later introduced by the Organizer/Event Producer.
• Participants understand and agree that participation in the Event is voluntary and at the own risk of participants. Each participant agrees to absolve the Organizer, Event Producer and any sponsor and/or supporting organizations from any and all liabilities arising from bodily injuries, accidents, death or other losses during or caused by travelling to and from the event venue during in the event or whatsoever reason.
• Each participant shall be physically fit and have the ability to participate in the Event. The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to disallow/disqualify any person who is known or suspected by the Organizer/Event Producer to be physically unfit to participate in the Event and such person shall accept such decision of the Organizer/Event Producer accordingly.
• All information provided by a participant in the registration form must be true and accurate.
• All entries must be submitted no later than the registration deadline. Entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to close the registration any time, whether before or after the registration deadline specified, without prior notification.
• The Organizer/Event Producer will charge HK$100 administration fee for the change of participant’s personal data after the submission of application.
• Participants aged 18 or below must be obtained the consent by a parent/guardian.
• All participants should register according to the age requirement of each category respectively (if applicable). Offenders will be disqualified and requested to leave the route / event venue.
• No pets or any form of wheel-run objects of transport, including but not limited to bicycles, skates, push carts, shoes with built-in rollers are allowed, except those authorized by the Organizer/Event Producer.
• Participants shall indemnify and/or reimburse the Organizer/Event Producer in respect of any additional expenses or costs incurred by the Organizer/Event Producer arising from or in connection with any fault or action or behaviour of such Participants during participation in the Event.
• Participants must retire and leave the route /event venue immediately if requested by any event official, medical staff, event director or security staff.
• Winners will be required to present their identification including HK identity card, passport or Registration Card for People with Disabilities for verification.
• Public liability insurance would not be provided by the Organizer. It is recommended that all participants to purchase your own personal accident insurance and other relevant insurance according to your needs.
• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to amend the program of the rules and regulations. Should there be disputes, the Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to the final decision.

Event Rules & Regulations

• Each participant shall be physically fit and have the ability to participate and finish the Event. The Organizer reserves the right to disallow or disqualify any person who is known or is suspected by the Organizer to be physically unfit to participate in the Event and such person shall accept the decision made the Organizer accordingly.
• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to divide the participants according to the best personal results they declared into various groups. The groups will start at different times to avoid unnecessary congestion.
• Participants can choose to show their number BIB or not.
• Participants shall keep their own number bib securely. The Organizer/ Event Producer would not re-issue a new number bib under any circumstances.
• Participants must not harass or impede other participants from conducting activities / competitions. Offenders will be disqualified and requested to leave the event venue.
• Cheating in the game is also not allowed. Offenders will be disqualified once found.
• Official Times will be used for determining the prizes and positions.
• Should there be disputes of the prizes and positions, Organizer/Event Producer reserve the right of the final decision.
• E-certificate of Achievement will be issued to all qualified participants with an Official Time in all activities and categories. Participants who do not start the activity according to the designated start time and assigned registered category and participants who do not complete the event, shall not be entitled to any awards and certificates.

Event Cancellation & Refund Policy

• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to cancel or cut short the Event for the following reasons. Registration fee and charitable donation (if applicable) will not be refunded.
  • adverse weather conditions
  • landslides, rock falls or hill fires along the course.
  • protests or blockage along the course.
  • Force majeure i.e. due to occurrence of incidents that are beyond the control of the Organizer/Event Producer and which renders it impossible, unsafe or impractical to hold the event. A force majeure event shall include, but is not limited to, act of God, war, hostilities, invasion, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, riot, commotion, strikes, go-slows, lock outs or disorder, outbreak of disease, acts or threats of terrorism.
• No refund is allowed after registration is completed. Registration fee paid for duplicated entries will not be refunded and places cannot be transferred to another applicant or activities. If a participant allows another party to attend on his or her behalf, both the participant and the runner who run on behalf of the participant will be disqualified and might not allowed to participate in future events.
• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right to disqualify any person and / or nullify his or her result due to any violation the Official Rules of the Event. No refund will be accommodated in the case of disqualifications (applicable to events).
• The Organizer/Event Producer reserves the right of final decision of the event. Any changes or contingent measures for the event announced by the Organizer/Event Producer and posted on the event’s website shall prevail.

青山公路與新界環迴車路

十九世紀末，世界尚未進入汽車時代，當時市區的主要交通是人力車及轎子，富人會騎馬出行，運載貨物靠木頭車、牛車、馬車，在香港及九龍市區已有「馬路」網絡的雛形。當時新界與九龍市區的陸路連接只有小徑，人員及物資運送十分不便，如果不遁水路以船代步，便一定要翻山越嶺。英國接管新界後，香港政府選取大埔為管治新界的總部，缺乏有效的陸路交通，實在不利管治。

說起青山公路的誕生，不得不說大埔公路。為連接九龍，大埔公路便在 1899 年展開工程及在 1904 年完成九龍至大埔一段，1914年完成大埔至粉嶺一段。而青山公路當初是作為大埔道向西至青山 (今屯門) 的伸延，所以最初只到達青山灣碼頭。

不過，工程完成前夕，世界進入汽車時代，於是香港政府亦在青山公路落成的同一年，決定把青山公路擴闊至 20 呎，以容納汽車行走。

初代版的青山公路由 1908 年展開首階段工程，是一條 6 呎闊的馬路，由青山灣碼頭連接屏山，這個闊度真的是馬車牛車或馬匹才能通過的馬路，1909 年開始興建屏山至元朗一段；1911 年元朗至凹頭一段的工程展開，並於同年完成；1913 年興建新田至凹頭，1915 年青山至粉嶺，全段 16.09哩完成。由尖沙咀經大埔、粉嶺、元朗至青山灣全長為 41 哩。

至於深水埗至荃灣 5.82 哩的一段路，在 1917 年分三段興建，雖然第二段荔枝角至醉酒灣又要開山又要填土，全段也能於 1918 年準期完成和啟用。最後一段荃灣至青山灣碼頭長10.19 哩，以青龍頭分為兩段工程中間點，荃灣至青龍頭要沿山腰開鑿，所以動用大量爆破技術，青龍頭至青山灣則經過大欖涌、掃管笏等河谷，遂要興建多座橋樑。最終到了 1919 年底第二代的青山公路完工，並於 1920 年通車，汽車可以由九龍經深水埗沿青山道到荃灣、青山、元朗至粉嶺，開始香港新界交通新一頁。

石製路標是里程碑，這牌石碑上面的 5 字一面是代表北行方向，由尖沙咀碼頭至此地的英里距離，另一面 51 1/2 代表南行方向由尖沙咀至大埔道再經青山道折返至此地的英里距離。這 5英里路標在青山公路葵涌段近蝴蝶谷道附近。( 拍攝 : 艾頓 )

作者 : 艾頓

參考資料
車水馬龍 - 香港戰前陸上交通 ( 馬冠堯 著 )

青山·客家·鬼佬

現在的青山最初叫杯渡山，唐朝時曾叫作屯門山，在宋朝至明朝有一段很長時間重用杯渡山舊名.

青山是香港西面的一座高山，而青山公路卻是繞過九逕山的山麓，與青山隔著一個海灣，為何青山公路以青山來命名 ? 可以先探究一下青山一名之由來。

由南朝宋到清朝鴉片戰爭前後，中間大約一千四百年，青山一直沒有被喚作「青山」。

起初這座山因為南朝宋杯渡禪師的傳說被稱為「杯渡山」。後來因為唐朝曾屯兵於山下保護商船及徵稅而被稱作「屯門山」。南漢後主劉鋹以屯門山有祥瑞為由，希望國祚綿長改名「瑞應山」，甚知宋朝軍隊不久兵臨廣州而被逼投降。宋朝官吏當然改掉舊政權「瑞應」舊名，以屯門山當時的佛教聖地的典故改回「杯渡山」，再而到明末至清末的「聖山」。

到了明朝萬曆，杯渡山被叫作聖山直到清朝末年.

但當客家人來到新安縣後，便為「青山」一名埋下伏筆。(現時香港範圍是舊時新安縣的一部分)

清朝康熙初年的「遷海」令沿海地區鄉村破敗田地荒蕪生靈塗炭，「復界」後回流的人丁單薄，官府遂招來客家人來到新安縣，協助恢復生產。肥沃的平地在屯門的北面早被回流的本地人重新佔據，後來到屯門的客家人聚居在沿岸貧脊之地及山谷中，如龍鼓灘、掃管笏、大欖。

滿清佔領中國之後，為杜絕在台灣島上繼續抗清的明朝將領鄭成功從大陸沿海得到補給，下達遷界令，到滿清迫降明鄭政權才下令復界，但沿海地區包括香港早已生靈塗炭，遷回的人口銳減，官府遂鼓勵客家人遷入開荒恢復生產。

1866 年，意大利傳教士西米安‧獲朗他尼 (Simone Volonteri) 所繪制的《新安縣全圖》，把「聖山」標為「清山」，英文為「Tsing Shan」，相信是由於客家話「聖山」的讀音近似廣府話「清山」，洋人繪圖時誤用了客家話讀音轉訛而來。地名應該由此而改變。

「清山」一名開始為人所用，書寫有時也會簡化作「青山」，如光緒 5年（1879 年） 出版的《廣州府志》便是。直至民國7年 （1918 年），顯奇及了幻兩位法師在屯門杯渡山建青山寺修行，以山上「松柏叢生，蔥翠遍野」，改其名為「青山」，由是成為定論。青山一名，相對屯門這一帶的歷史，其實是十分十分年輕。

英國租借新界後，政府地圖以青山及 Castle Peak 標示杯渡山，山下一帶也稱為青山，山下海灣本來叫作屯門澳，也改稱為青山灣。而 Castle Peak 一名因早期西歐航海人士見杯渡山山勢險峻，加上山頂岩石堆疊，貌似歐洲城堡而來。

而青山公路初代版本只由上水接駁青山區域，叫作青山公路也很理所當然。

作者 : 艾頓

參考資料
《香港地區史研究之四──屯門》 ( 劉智鵬、劉蜀永 著 )

青山公路上的紡織及製衣業

走在青山道上就如同探索著香港發展的脈絡。

英國接管新界之前，深水莆（深水埗之舊寫法之一）是中英邊防前線，清廷曾有駐軍，編制上叫深水莆汛，亦設有海關緝私及徵稅，是出入境口岸之一。這附近有不少客家村落，主要有鄧、周、曾、李、鄭、蘇、黃、葉、謝、吳及徐等氏族。

英國接管新界之後，隨著經濟發展及人口增加，城市發展亦伸延至深水莆；加上大埔道及青山道相繼落成，深水埗遂成為進出新界的重要門戶，鄉村田野轉眼間變成街道與樓房，人煙漸趨稠密。

勞動力集結，成了工業發展的有利條件。二戰前的香港，工廠多集中在旺角、九龍城、西環等舊城區，深水埗算是邊鄙的一個開發點。小廠設於唐樓內，與民居毗鄰，多是前廠後居，規模有限；財力較強的大廠就會買地，興建獨立廠房，規模大的更設有宿舍、貨倉、寫字樓等。

戰前香港曾經有棉紗廠。1899年，渣甸洋行在銅鑼灣掃稈埔成立香港棉紡織染公司。1914年，渣甸因為缺乏熟練技工，又因電力與淡水供應不足，同時又因香港潮濕氣候不利紡紗，最後將工廠遷至上海經營。結果香港的織造業只有靠外來棉紗。

​南來資金及技術促成香港紡紗業的崛起

​到 1947年，上海商人李震之在香港創辦大南紗廠，該廠發現機械運作產生的熱力，能減低空氣濕度，解決了香港潮濕氣候影響棉紗的品質的問題。也鼓勵了其他上海江浙一帶的紗廠南來。

二戰之後，至 1949 年期間，內地政局動盪，開始有內地工業家在香港投資生產。香港的工業，便沿著處於邊鄙的青山道發展起來，而青山道上第一個工業區便是長沙灣。長沙灣的範圍不算很大，響噹噹的名字卻也不少，立足的主要是紡織及製衣業。

香港紗廠創辦人是上海紡織大王王統元，其基業可追溯至1913年在上海成立的達豐染織廠。1947年，王統元移居香港，並把內地先進的機械及熟練的技工帶來，先後成立九龍紗廠及香港紗廠。1954 年創辦香港紡織 (香港紗廠的前身) ，選址長沙灣青山道，其後漸變成青山道的大戶，全盛時在青山道及附近共發展了六期工廠大廈，佔地廣，規模大；在香港紡織業的黃金時代，它是香港三大紡織廠之一。

長沙灣之後，工業沿著青山道發展，下一站到了當時仍是荒郊的荃灣，荃灣柴灣角附近​青山道 9 咪至 9 咪半曾是紗廠及紡織廠的集中地。1948年唐炳源在今日的麗城花園和灣景花園一帶創辦了南海紗廠 ，1954 年陳廷驊創辦了南豐紗廠，吳文政 1957年在其附近成立中央紗廠；南海紗廠附近也有寶星紗廠、東南紗廠及會德豐紗廠。

​有了紗線，便有布匹織造

​戰前香港己有不少布廠，大多是小規模生產。戰後香港受惠於英聯邦的關稅優惠，布匹、成衣、棉紗出口急速發展。當紡紗工業發展起來，不少紗廠也同時兼營織布廠，但也有織布廠反過來開設紗廠，如由中央布廠開設的中央紗廠。

​梭織與針織雙線發展，香港成為世界成衣製造中心

​早於戰前，香港的織造業與成衣業也有一定規模。工廠多是前廠後居或者應該叫工場或者山寨廠，多在深水埗，其後沿青山道發展起來。

震歐線衫廠有限公司由譚耀雲於1930年代成立，戰後在長沙灣青山道自建廠房，生產線仔衫、線衫、文化衫及背心，而蜆殼版及雞仔嘜是該廠著名的品牌，其中於1953年推出的雞仔嘜，時至今日仍然是人所熟悉的品牌。

利工民織造廠亦是以線衫聞名，由馮薵如於1923 年在廣州成立，戰後把生產重心遷移至香港，秋蟬牌及金鹿牌是不少男士的日常衣著。現時利工民依然維持香港生產線，廠房正位於青山道。

​戰後南來的上海蘇浙實業家的主導了紡紗工業。而織造業則有上海與廣東資本分庭伉儷。不少紗廠也因掌握紗線供應，因而也開辦了織布廠，如唐翔千家族本來經營南海紗廠，他在 1968 年於長沙灣成立半島針織廠。

鄰近青山道的羅氏針織，創辦人羅定邦在50年代由順德來港白手興家，把祖家經營紗廠的資金技術帶來香港，再而進軍織布廠。1975年正式成立羅氏針織，隨着本港製衣業在七八十年代發展蓬勃，羅氏執製衣業牛耳，本地著名大眾時裝 Bossini ，就是由他一手創立。

此外，赫赫有名的麗新集團創辦人林百欣，也是在1945年由潮州移居香港。他來港初期，只是成衣推銷員，稍後，在深水涉元洲街開設成福織造廠，打下基礎；1950年，他接辦麗新製衣廠。及後在1964年，麗新製衣廠遷入青山道一幢3層廠廈，屬於自置物業；之後，林氏利用原址重建舊有廠房，並藉此涉足地產發展。再後來，麗新不單染指製衣、地產，發展至今，更成為業務多元化的企業集團。

紡織業基地吸引染廠進駐

青山道令偏遠的地方變得交通便利，不只開發了廉價的土地，也把一些工業帶到合適的地方。當時，漂染是其中受地理條件所限最明顯的一個行業。染廠不只佔地廣，也要選址水源充沛的地方，因為漂染每個工序也離不開水，九龍半島上的天然溪流當然缺少，水量也不穩定，但同處青山道上的荃灣，因位處大帽山腳，溪流多，水量亦充沛，也因為附近也是紗廠布廠集中之地，遂成了染廠理想之地。

說起染廠，在香港最有名的當屬中國染廠。1949 年查濟民在荃灣曹公潭下游河道旁創辦中國染廠，1956 年因業務擴展故在河道對岸另建新廠，並於1959年創辦新界紗廠涉足紡紗，其後又開辦百老匯製衣廠、香港興業有限公司，建立了紡紗、製衣和銷售的垂直業務。

1960 年中國染廠亦隨同查氏紡織集團進軍西非尼日利亞，成為由種植棉花、紡紗、織布到印染，這條垂直生產線當中的重要一員。至今在西非僱有兩萬多工人，是不少世界各大服裝品牌的幕後功臣。查氏憑藉雄厚實力，旗下的香港興業集團，成為華資著名企業。

青山道與荃灣集中香港主要的紗廠，也帶動周邊工業發展，如在南豐紗廠、中央紗廠旁邊便有不少布廠及染廠，廠房尚在的有富華織造廠 （1948年）中及 慶豐印染廠 ( 1971 年) ，也吸引為數更多的製衣廠。一條青山道便是香港紡織及製衣工業的重要基地，紡織高峰期 (1967年) 聘用了約 43 萬人，而製衣業高峰期 (1986年) 聘用人近 30 萬人，佔全港製造業勞工的三分之一，養活了不少家庭。

寄語 :

​以上只是青山道上的知名企業的一小部份，小小的一條青山道，跨國集團卻也不少，它們業務由小變大，再變強，繼而走向世界，與香港的蛻變何其相似。現在，已沒有多少產品是香港製造，但一如紡織及成衣工業，其實世界不少產業鏈中也能找到香港企業的參與。雖然香港工業生產減少，只要實業家的開拓精神尚存，遠遠說不上式微，香港工業只不過是昇華至另一層次。大家可要重新認識香港企業的真正實力。

作者 : 艾頓

參考 : 香港記憶 https://www.hkmemory.hk/

階磚仔、白牌車與紅Van

提起青山道，便不得不說「亡命小巴」。「亡命小巴」是大眾對「紅 Van」的戲稱，當中貶義居多，亡命是指車速快，同時也是指責不少司機的駕駛態度相當急進甚至是魯莽。

「紅 Van」正式名稱叫「公共小型巴士」，起源與在五、六十年代新界地區的一種九座位新界的士有關，因為此類車是輕型客貨車（英文：Van），所以又稱作「九人Van」。由於它的車身有一條黑白格子相間的「腰帶」，因此又被稱「階磚仔」。

當時，「階磚仔」不會在街上兜客，而是在站頭輪候。荃灣眾安街是「階磚仔」其中一個站頭，來往地點包括深水埗青山道和油麻地佐敦道，收費每位六毫，其經營模式與今天的小巴非常類似，只是行駛路線和範圍及限制不同而已。]

1960年代人口漸多，本來只有的士和「九人Van」為合法收費載客工具，但「九人Van」經常超載，此外，又出現私家「白牌車」收費載客，非法充當的士；當時違法收費車輛載客情況相當混亂。後來，政府進行整頓，統一規管的士以外的收費載客車輛。由於最初以輕型客貨車為車型 ( 階磚仔 ) ，車身保留腰線，就算後來改用小型巴士的車型，這類公共小型巴士依然被稱作「紅Van」。

上面提到，「紅Van」的另一個前身便是白牌車。上世紀五六十年代，公共交通的網絡遠不如現在四通八達，新界不少偏遠鄉村並無巴士服務，村民日常出入，除了「階磚仔」之外，便只能靠一些非法經營的輕型客貨車及私家車，因為在當時汽車登記制度，能載客的輕型客貨車與私車同為非營業車輛，所以車牌同為白底黑字，所以又被喚作「白牌車」。

當時的「白牌車」主要穿梭於新界各鄉郊小鎮，雖然是非法，但因為車程比巴士短，效率高，又能到達巴士服務不及的地方，所以儘管車費較高亦甚受歡迎，就算經常被警方掃蕩，也是屢禁不止。「你有張良計，我有過長梯」，為應付警察「放蛇」捉人，白牌車便加設一個叫「蛇仔」的跟車，負責收車錢之餘，又要負責「睇水」，逃避警方的追捕。

到了1967年的時候，時局極為動盪，街上不時有土製炸彈 ( 土製菠蘿 )，交通經常受到影響。及後，巴士公司又因工人罷工而被迫停駛，市區交通隨之癱瘓。政府當局為了讓社會各行各業繼續運作，一度默許「階磚仔」及「白牌車」進入市區接載乘客，但亦衍生不少問題。這些非法載客車輛經常在大街路口和巴士站、電車站等客，阻塞交通。故此，這樣的經營方式不能長此下去。

到了1967年底，香港局面漸見平穩，交通恢復正常，當局便乘勢收拾亂局，打算取締九人的士之類非法經營。可是，民間卻習慣乘搭便利，遂有聲音反對取締，認為社會應有輔助性交通工具，建議發牌管理。當局幾經考慮，於1969年6月13日公布，會將小巴分成兩類：一類叫公共小型巴士，即係現在的小巴；另一類叫私家小型巴士。前者可以在街上兜客收費，最多可以載14人，除了有限制的地方，其他地方都可以上落客；後者不可在街上兜客，通常用作學童巴士，或者私家巴士。

小型巴士（小巴）從此登上歷史舞台。政府自1970年代中起便限制紅色小巴不能在「已有完備鐵路及巴士網絡的新發展地區」和在「新落成的快速公路」提供服務。雖然新式公路相繼落成，但「紅Van」只能行走舊路 ( 即大埔公路及青山公路 ) 來往新界。「紅Van」也就成為青山公路一道特色風景，有上水元朗線、元朗屯門線、元朗荃灣線、元朗旺角線、元朗佐敦線、元朗銅鑼灣線等。服務沿線居民，填補了巴士班次疏落的不足，特別是通宵時段。直至今天，小巴依然是新界的重要交通工具之一。

作者 : 艾頓

參考資料
搭紅VAN──從水牌說起：小巴的流金歲月 （麥錦生口述, 王俊生筆錄）