Kat O
吉澳 | |
|---|---|
 The pier of Kat O | |
 Location of Kat O in Hong Kong | |
| Geography | |
| Location | North District |
| Area | 2.35 km2 (0.91 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 122 m (400 ft) |
| Highest point | Kai Kung Leng (雞公嶺) |
| Administration | |
| Kat O | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 吉澳 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Crooked Island | ||||||||||||
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Kat O (Chinese: 吉澳) also named Crooked Island, is an island in Northeast Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of North District.
Geography[]
Kat O is located in the west of Mirs Bay.[1] With an area of 2.35 km²,[2] it is the largest island in North District, the second largest being Wong Wan Chau (Double Island).[3] 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.[3] Its highest point is Kai Kung Leng (雞公嶺), which is 122 m above sea level.[1]
History[]
Kat O was once a major fishing market in Hong Kong,[4] and long served as an important stopover for boats travelling between Hong Kong and the rest of China.[5]
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.[5] Other residents were Tanka fishermen.[4]
The Tin Hau Temple at Kat O was estimated to be built in 1763.[6] It is listed as a Grade III historic building.[7] Part of the temple building was used for the Tat O School until the school was moved to a new location in 1957.[4] A is also located in the vicinity.[8]
The island is home to three cannons. These are thought to have been made in the west, during the 19th century.[8]
Conservation[]
Kat O was part of the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park since 1979.[9]
The Kat O Nature Trail spans 1 km long, stretching from the Kat O Ferry Pier to Ko Tei Teng (高地頂).[1]
The Kat O Geoheritage Centre (at No. 142 Kat O Main Street) was opened in 2010[10] by Kat O villagers, volunteer groups and the government to raise public awareness of geo-conservation, as part of the Hong Kong Geopark.[11]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c Hong Kong Geopark: Kat O Nature Trail
- ^ Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: Hong Kong geographic data sheet
- ^ a b 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
- ^ a b c Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. Tin Hau Temple, Sai O, Kat O
- ^ a b HKFP Venture: Kat O, Hong Kong’s forgotten island – once its international gateway, HKFP, by Rhoda Kwan. 6 Sept 2020
- ^ Welcome to 18 Districts - North District
- ^ List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results
- ^ a b "Crooked Island". 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: Plover Cove Country Park Archived 2013-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Time Out Hong Kong: "Secret Hong Kong islands", 29 Apr 2014
- ^ Hong Kong Geopark: Kat O Geoheritage Centre
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crooked Island, Hong Kong. |
- Delineation of area of existing village Kat O (Sha Tau Kok) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
- Kut-O Chinese Association (Kent area) Website
- Pictures of Kat O: [1], [2]
- Hong Kong Geopark: "Lee Yuk Ying Introduces the Cultural History of Kat O to Visitors".
- Webpage about Kat O
- Pictures of Tin Hau Temple, Sai O, Kat O
- How to visit two of Hong Kong's most remote islands in one day CNN.com
Coordinates: 22°32′28″N 114°17′43.9″E / 22.54111°N 114.295528°E
- Islands of Hong Kong
- North District, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark