Archaeological relics suggest that Hong Kong was inhabited by early settlers around 6,000 years ago. Middle Neolithic deposits have been discovered at Chung Hom Wan on Hong Kong Island, Tai Wan on Lamma Island, Fu Tei Wan on Chek Lap Kok and Yung Long in Tuen Mun. The pottery discovered includes cooking vessels and food containers, mostly decorated with designs painted in red, or impressed with a fine cord pattern. A variety of stone tools and stone decors have also been found, suggesting that the inhabitants there lived simply on hunting and fishing.

Similar cultural remains were found in sandbar and shell midden sites in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai and Macau. The shapes and decoration of the pottery and stoneware unearthed are more or less identical to those discovered in Hong Kong.

	Stone hammer Middle Neolithic period Excavated from Yung Long, Tuen Mun Length: 19cm Width: 9.5cm
	Coarse corded pottery fu with incised wavy-line pattern Middle Neolithic period Excavated from Sham Wan, Lamma Island Height: 14cm Body diameter: 18cm
	Pottery stem cup with incised pattern and perforations Middle Neolithic period Excavated from Fu Tei Wan, Chek Lap Kok Height: 25cm Rim diameter: 12.5cm
	Pottery basin with perforated ring-foot Middle Neolithic period Excavated from Tai Wan, Lamma Island Height: 7cm Rim: 17cm