Pak Tai Temple was the major temple of the Ma Hang Village (馬坑村) in Stanley. During the Qing Dynasty, Stanley was the largest fishing village in Hong Kong. The temple was built in 1805 by the Chiu Chow fishermen to worship the Taoist god Pak Tai, one of the protectors of fishermen besides Tin Hau and Hung Shing. It is also said that the tiny temple was built by the notorious pirate Cheung Po Tsai and linked to the Cheung Po Tsai Cave in Chung Hom Kok by a secret tunnel which was later blocked when Cheung surrendered to the Qing government. Other deities including Kwan Tai and Kwun Yam are also being served in the temple.
Built from rocks on the hillside to the west of Stanley Bay, Pak Tai temple is well situated with a full view of the Stanley Bay. The small one-hall temple is rather simple with plain white walls, pitched roof, green tiles and a low parapet wall at the cliff end running along the shore. Its back wall is in fact built from the rocks, part of which was levelled to become its altar housing the deities. The building has no column but its roof is supported by joists and purlins painted in red. Apart from the cloud-shape bronze board donated by the fishermen at the opening and the ancient well in proximity, all the other historical relics can no longer be found.
