High Island (Hong Kong)

{{Short description|Former island in the southeast of Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong}} [[File:Sha Kiu (Sai Kung) 02.jpg|thumb|Fish farming next to Sha Kiu Tau ({{zh|t=沙橋頭|labels=no}}), on High Island, Hong Kong.]] thumb|Tai She Wan ({{zh|t=大蛇灣|labels=no}}), on the western coast of High Island. [[File:Tin Hau Temple, High Island 19.jpg|thumb|Tin Hau Temple on High Island.]] [[File:Lung Shun Wan Mission Centre 05.jpg|thumb|Ruins of Lung Shun Wan Mission Centre ({{zh|t=龍船灣天主堂|labels=no}}) in Pak A.]] [[File:Hexagonal volcanic tuffs at East Dam of High Island Reservoir 1.jpg|thumb|Volcanic tuffs with hexagonal columnar jointing at East Dam of High Island Reservoir.]] [[File:Sai Kung East Dam Sea Cave.JPG|thumb|Sea cave on High Island, next to the High Island Reservoir East Dam.]] thumb|Sha Kiu Public Pier.

'''High Island''' or '''Leung Shuen Wan Chau''' ({{zh|t=糧船灣洲|labels=no}}, {{Italics correction|{{zh|cy=lèuhng syùhn wāan hói}}}})<ref name="around">{{cite journal |last1= Schofield|first1=Walter |author-link1= |year= 1983|title=The Islands Around Hong Kong (notes for a talk given in 1937)|journal= Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch|volume= 23 |pages= 9109-110|publisher= |location= |doi= |url=https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/b9d5480a618a698a5ffd49eb900bb8d9.pdf|issn= 1991-7295|accessdate= }}</ref> is a former island located in the southeast of Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong, within Sai Kung District. Two sets of dams constructed between 1969 and 1979 and crossing the former Kwun Mun Channel ({{zh|t=官門海峽|labels=no}}), connect the island to the peninsula, thereby forming the High Island Reservoir. Before being connected to the mainland, the island had an area of 8.511 km² (3.29 square miles) and was the 4th largest island of Hong Kong in 1960.<ref name="safeguarding"/> {{TOC limit|2}}

==Etymology== Geologically, high islands are islands of volcanic origin. The term can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed on sunken volcanos).<ref>《香港九龍兼新界形勢圖》，香港中華書局，1940年</ref>

==Geography== High Island is located in the southeast of Sai Kung Peninsula, east of Port Shelter, Kau Sai Chau, Jin Island, Tai Tau Chau, and Bay Islet, north of Town Island, Bluff Island, Basalt Island, Wang Chau, Wong Nai Chau, and Kong Tau Pai, as well as west of Po Pin Chau and Conic Island.

The body of water to the southwest of the former island is called Rocky Harbour (or Leung Shuen Wan Hoi ({{zh|t=糧船灣海|l=grain ship bay sea|labels=no}})).

==Villages== Villages and former villages on High Island include, from west to east along the south coast: Tai She Wan ({{zh|t=大蛇灣|labels=no}}), Pak A ({{zh|t=北丫|labels=no|l=North Fork}}),<ref name="around"/> Sha Kiu ({{zh|t=沙橋|labels=no}}), Tung A ({{zh|t=東丫|labels=no}}) and Pak Lap ({{zh|t=白腊|labels=no|l=White Insect Wax}}).<ref name="around"/>

Pak A, Tung A, Pak Lap and Tai She Wan are recognised villages under the New Territories Small House Policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/doc/en/small-house/rv0909.pdf |title=List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy |last= |first= |date=September 2009 |website= |publisher=Lands Department |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

Pak Lap was historically is a single (Lau) surname Hakka village. It contains 17 houses built in two rows. These houses have been restored and developed into a small resort.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cheung |first1=Sindney |authorlink= |last2= |first2= |title=Traditional dwellings, conservation and land use: A study of three villages in Sai Kung |journal= Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch|volume= 43|pages= 9-10 |publisher= |location= | year= 2003|doi= |url=https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/720e758b956297d719fcb5804e7fae14.pdf |issn= 1991-7295|accessdate= }}</ref>

===Population=== At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Pak A was 164. The number of males was 76.<ref>{{Cite journal| last = Hase| first = Patrick |author-link=Patrick Hase| title = Traditional Life in the New Territories: The Evidence of the 1911 and 1921 Censuses| journal =Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch| volume = 36| page = 79| year = 1996| url = https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/ecc123316b3526a31a101b3c4cf08a12.pdf| issn = 1991-7295}}</ref>

In 2006, a few dozen people lived in Pak A, Tung A, Sha Kiu and Pak Lap. Additionally, about 100 people lived in designated fish culture zones.<ref name="safeguarding"/>

==Geology== High Island features columnar-jointed volcanic tuff. Most of the columns are sub-vertical, straight-sided and parallel. This type of volcanic rock covers a large area around Sai Kung Peninsula in the eastern part of Hong Kong, including High Island Reservoir and Tai Long Wan. ==Features== ===Aquaculture=== The water body near Leung Shuen Wan is one of the 26 designated marine fish culture zones in Hong Kong<ref name="fisheries culture">{{cite web|url=https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mpo/fish_aqu_mpo.html|title=Marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture |date=15 March 2022|access-date=23 March 2022|department=Fisheries Branch|publisher=Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department}}</ref> and its shores feature several seafood restaurants.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110927053745/http://www.travelinsaikung.org.hk/english/sea/leung_shuen.shtml "Leung Shuen Wan Tin Hau Temple", travelinsaikung.org.hk] (archive)</ref>

===Tin Hau Temple=== There is a Tin Hau Temple ({{zh|t=糧船灣天后宮|labels=no}}) on High Island, located between Pak A and Tung A. Built in 1741, it is one of the two temples which have a marine parade to celebrate the Tin Hau Festival ({{zh|t=天后誕|labels=no}}). The other is the Tin Hau Temple in Tap Mun which has it once every ten years.<ref name="Appraisal">Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. [https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/common/historicbuilding/en/617_Appraisal_En.pdf Tin Hau Temple, Leung Shuen Wan]</ref> The Tin Hau Festival at High Island takes place every two years. The religious ceremony lasts six days and the marine parade is held on the eve of Tin Hau's birthday.<ref name="safeguarding">{{cite thesis |last= Chan|first=Tin-kuen, Anthony |date=September 2006|title=Parade for the queen: safeguarding the intangible heritage of the Tin Hau Sea Ritual in Leung Shuen Wan, Sai Kung |type= Postgraduate thesis, Master of Science in Conservation|publisher= University of Hong Kong|url=http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/56068 }}</ref> Other deities including Kwan Tai and Kwun Yam are also worshipped at the temple.<ref name="Appraisal"/> The temple was listed as a Grade II historic building in 1996, and as a Grade III historic building since 2010.<ref name="grading">Antiquities and Monuments Office. [http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf List of the Historic Buildings in Building Assessment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215155849/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf |date=2011-12-15 }}</ref>

===Refugee camp=== The High Island Detention Centre was a refugee camp built near West Dam of the reservoir for hosting refugees and boat people from Vietnam. The area is now a flat piece of grassland that is grazed by cows. It has a pavilion that leads out of the strip of land.

==Education== Leung Shuen Wan is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 95. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and one government school: Tseung Kwan O Government Primary School (將軍澳官立小學).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-95b.pdf|title=POA School Net 95|publisher=Education Bureau|accessdate=2022-10-09|archive-date=2022-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009164808/https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-95b.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Conservation== High Island is part of the Sai Kung East Country Park.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_ske/cou_vis_cou_ske.html|title=Sai Kung East Country Park |publisher=Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department |access-date=18 July 2016 }}</ref> The eastern part of High Island is part of the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region of the Hong Kong Geopark.

The High Island Special Area ({{zh|t=糧船灣特別地區|labels=no}}) covers 3.9 hectares and was designated in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_lea/cp_sa.html| publisher=Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department |title=Country Parks & Special Areas}}</ref> It includes the two islands Po Pin Chau and Conic Island and no part of High Island proper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/subleg/brief/137_brf.pdf |title=Double Haven and Others (Special Areas) Order 2010 |last= |first= |date=20 October 2010 |website= |publisher=Legislative Council of Hong Kong |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> The geology of the area is characterised by volcanic rocks of the Cretaceous period.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201012/31/P201012310121.htm |title=Five geologically important sites designated as special areas |last= |first= |date=31 December 2010 |website= |publisher=Government of Hong Kong |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

==Transport== There are public piers in Pak A, Tung A and Sha Kiu, but there is no public ferry service to High Island.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ultimate guide to High Island |last=Griffiths |first=Nigel|date=22 May 2014 |magazine=Sai Kung & Clearwater Bay Magazine }}</ref> Sai Kung Man Yee Road ({{zh|t=西貢萬宜路|labels=no}}) runs through the northern part of High Island, roughly along High Island Reservoir, from West Dam to East Dam. The 9A minibus route is the only public transportation that can reach the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir, meanwhile urban taxis and new territories taxis are also allowed in Sai Kung Man Yee Road.

==References== {{reflist|40em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|High Island, Hong Kong}} * [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/Q/q-sk-74.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Pak A (Sai Kung) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)] * [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/Q/q-sk-48.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Pak Lap (Sai Kung) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)] * [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/Q/q-sk-39.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Tai She Wan (Sai Kung) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)] * [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/Q/q-sk-73.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Tung A (Sai Kung) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)] (includes Sha Kiu) * [http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s4f7.htm High Island: Internationally rare acidic polygonal volcanic rock columns] * Historical images of the Kwun Mun Channel: [https://fitz.hk/sports/hiking/%E8%88%8A%E6%97%A5%E8%B6%B3%E8%B7%A1-%E5%B1%B1%E9%87%8E%E6%87%B7%E8%88%8A%E7%AF%87%E4%B9%8B%E5%BC%B7%E6%B8%A1%E5%AE%98%E9%96%80-%E4%B8%80/] * Antiquities Advisory Board. [https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/common/historicbuilding/photo/617_Photo.pdf Pictures of Tin Hau Temple, Leung Shuen Wan] {{Sai Kung District}} {{Reclaimed land in Hong Kong}} {{Former islands of Hong Kong}}

Category:Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark Category:Islands of Hong Kong Category:Sai Kung Peninsula