{{short description|Tidal island of Hong Kong}} {{Refimprove|date=December 2009}} [[File:Ma Shi Chau Pat Sin Leng.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Ma Shi Chau (front) and the Pat Sin Leng mountain range (rear)]] thumb|right|300px|View of the tombolo connecting Ma Shi Chau to Yim Tin Tsai.

'''Ma Shi Chau''' ({{Zh|t=馬屎洲|sl=Ma<sup>5</sup>Si<sup>2</sup>Jau<sup>1</sup>}}, literally "Horse Dung Island") is an island of Hong Kong, under the administration of Tai Po District. It is located in Tolo Harbour in the northeast New Territories (near Sam Mun Tsai). It is connected with another island, Yim Tin Tsai, by a tombolo traversable at low tide.

It was previously known as No Kot Chai <ref> {{Cite web |url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1928 |title=Hong Kong Historic Maps - Reference 1928 (UK National Archives) |access-date=2023-03-23 }}</ref> and No Kot Choi <ref> {{Cite web |url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1909 |title=Hong Kong Historic Maps - Reference 1909 (National Library of Australia) |access-date=2023-03-23 }}</ref> ({{Zh|t=螺角洲}}).<ref> {{cite book |last= 黃|first= 佩佳|author-link= |title= 新界風土名勝大觀 |year= 2016|url= |location= |publisher= 商务印书馆(香港)有限公司|page=13 |isbn=9789620756924}} </ref>

==Geography== Ma Shi Chau has an area of 0.61&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100215064613/http://www.geopark.gov.hk/publications/MaShiChauFieldGuide.pdf Geopark Field Guide: Ma Shi Chau]</ref> It is part of the Ma Shi Chau Special Area, as it exhibits tombolo and tide features rarely seen in Hong Kong. It is the largest island of the four in the Special Area, the others being Yeung Chau, Centre Island and an unnamed island near Yim Tin Tsai.<ref>[http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr98-99/english/subleg/brief/93_brf.pdf MA SHI CHAU (SPECIAL AREA) ORDER 1999]</ref><ref>[http://www.hklii.org/hk/legis/en/reg/208D.txt SPECIAL AREAS (DESIGNATION) (CONSOLIDATION) ORDER - CHAPTER 208D]</ref>

It has sedimentary rock dating back to the Permian period that is protected by its Special Area status.

== See also== {{portal|Islands}} *Tidal island

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.geopark.gov.hk/en/discover/attractions/ma-shi-chau Ma Shi Chau (half-day tour)]

{{Commons category|Ma Shi Chau}} {{Tai Po District}} {{Islands of Hong Kong}} {{Coord|22|27|13.94|N|114|13|45.33|E|type:isle_region:HK|display=title}}

Category:Uninhabited islands of Hong Kong Category:Tai Po District Category:Tidal islands Category:Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Category:Tombolos {{TaiPo-geo-stub}}