Kat O
吉澳
The pier of Kat O
Location of Kat O in Hong Kong
Geography
LocationNorth District
Area2.35 km2 (0.91 sq mi)
Highest elevation122 m (400 ft)
Highest pointKai Kung Leng
(雞公嶺)
Administration
Kat O
Traditional Chinese吉澳
Literal meaningCrooked Island
Village houses near the coast.

Kat O (Chinese: 吉澳) also named Crooked Island, is an island in Northeast Hong Kong.

Administration

Administratively, Kat O is part of North District. It is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy.[1]

Geography

Tin Hau Temple. on Kat O
Camp Cove (白沙頭灣) in the southern part of Kat O.

Kat O is located in the west of Mirs Bay.[2] With an area of 2.35 km²,[3] it is the largest island in North District, the second largest being Wong Wan Chau (Double Island).[4] Neighbouring islands include: Ap Chau, Ngo Mei Chau (Crescent Island), and Pak Sha Chau (Round Island). The village of Tung O (東澳) is located on its northwest coast.[4] Its highest point is Kai Kung Leng (雞公嶺), which is 122 m above sea level.[2]

O Pui Tong (澳背塘) is a bay surrounded by the crook-shaped Crooked Island and Yeung Chau.[5] O Pui Tong, together with the northwestern waters of Kat O, are two of the 26 designated marine fish culture zones in Hong Kong.[6]

History

Kat O was once a major fishing market in Hong Kong,[7] and long served as an important stopover for boats travelling between Hong Kong and the rest of China.[8]

During the Ming dynasty, a decree required all inhabitants to leave the island. Then in the 1660s, soon after the end of the dynasty, it was re-settled by Hakka people.[8] Other residents were Tanka fishermen.[7]

The Tin Hau Temple at Kat O was estimated to be built in 1763.[9] It is listed as a Grade III historic building.[10] Part of the temple building was used for the Tat O School until the school was moved to a new location in 1957.[7] A Pak Kung Shrine is also located in the vicinity.[11]

The island is home to three cannons. These are thought to have been made in the west, during the 19th century.[11]

Conservation

Kat O was part of the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park since 1979.[12]

The Kat O Nature Trail spans 1 km long, stretching from the Kat O Ferry Pier to Ko Tei Teng (高地頂).[2]

The Kat O Geoheritage Centre (at No. 142 Kat O Main Street) was opened in 2010[13] by Kat O villagers, volunteer groups and the government to raise public awareness of geo-conservation, as part of the Hong Kong Geopark.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy" (PDF). Lands Department. September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Hong Kong Geopark: Kat O Nature Trail
  3. ↑ Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: Hong Kong geographic data sheet
  4. 1 2 K.W. Lai, S.D.G. Campbell & R. Shaw, Geology of the Northeastern New Territories, p. 15, Civil Engineering Dept, Geotechnical Engineering Office, December 1996
  5. ↑ "O Pui Tong Fish Culture Zone". Project WATERMAN. The University of Hong Kong.
  6. ↑ "Marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture". Fisheries Branch. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Sai O, Kat O
  8. 1 2 HKFP Venture: Kat O, Hong Kong’s forgotten island – once its international gateway, HKFP, by Rhoda Kwan. 6 Sept 2020
  9. ↑ Welcome to 18 Districts - North District
  10. ↑ Antiquities Advisory Board. List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results
  11. 1 2 "Crooked Island". 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  12. ↑ Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: Plover Cove Country Park Archived 2013-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Time Out Hong Kong: "Secret Hong Kong islands", 29 Apr 2014
  14. ↑ Hong Kong Geopark: Kat O Geoheritage Centre

Further reading

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22°32′28″N 114°17′43.9″E / 22.54111°N 114.295528°E / 22.54111; 114.295528

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