Outlying Islands, Hong Kong | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Traditional Chinese | 離島 | ||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 离岛 | ||||||||||||
|
The Outlying Islands refers to all the islands that make up the territory of Hong Kong,with the exception of Hong Kong Island and smaller islands on its coasts. There are 263 islands over 500 m2 in Hong Kong, [1] The vast majority of which are located within the New Territories and significant numbers of them are located in Islands District in the south and southwest,Sai Kung District in the southeast,and Tai Po District and North District in the northeast. The term outlying is not strictly defined and in some cases islands very close to Hong Kong Island and mainland China[ citation needed ] are not included.
Inconvenient transport meant that development came relatively late compared to other parts of Hong Kong,and many islands are still undeveloped. Many of the outlying islands are sparsely populated and remain largely rural,although significant traditional villages and towns exist on the islands of Lantau,Peng Chau,Lamma,and Cheung Chau.
However,urban development has been made. For instance,the island of Tsing Yi became part of Tsuen Wan New Town in the late 1970s,and is now linked to the rest of Hong Kong by several road and rail bridges. In the 1980s,Discovery Bay was privately developed as an upmarket residential area on Lantau,served by a fast ferry service to the central business district. In the 1990s,the development of the new Hong Kong Airport,off the north shore of Lantau,led to the creation of a road and rail link to that island and the development of Tung Chung,previously a small settlement,into a new town adjacent to the airport. As a result of this improved access,further developments on Lantau followed,including a road link to Discovery Bay,and the development of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
The more rural islands,and the rural areas of Lantau,are popular recreation spots and weekend getaway destinations for those living in the more densely populated parts of the territory.
Ferry/Kai-to services to the outlying islands run as follows:
Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network,encompassing both public and private transport. Based on Hong Kong Government's Travel Characteristics Survey,over 90% of the daily journeys are on public transport,the highest rate in the world. However,in 2014 the Transport Advisory Committee,which advises the Government on transportation issues,issued a report on the much worsened congestion problem in Hong Kong and pointed at the excessive growth of private cars during the past 10–15 years.
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong,located West of Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula,and is part of the New Territories. Administratively,most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong. A small northeastern portion of the island is located in the Tsuen Wan District.
The Islands District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is part of the New Territories. It had a population of 170,900 in 2018.
Hong Kong has a long coastline that is full of twists and turns with many bays and beaches. Many of them are well sheltered by mountains nearby,as Hong Kong is a mountainous place. As a result,large waves seldom appear at the bays,making them suitable for human swimming.
Tsing Yi,sometimes referred to as Tsing Yi Island,is an island in the urban area of Hong Kong,to the northwest of Hong Kong Island and south of Tsuen Wan. With an area of 10.69 km2 (4.13 sq mi),the island has extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau (牙鷹洲) and Chau Tsai. Three major bays or harbours,Tsing Yi Lagoon,Mun Tsai Tong and Tsing Yi Bay (青衣灣) in the northeast,have been completely reclaimed for new towns.
Tsuen Wan District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the New Territories and is served by the Tsuen Wan line of the MTR metro system. Its area is 60,7 km². Its residents,who mostly live in Tsuen Wan Town,enjoy the highest income in the New Territories.
Tung Chung,meaning "eastern stream",is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island,Hong Kong. One of the most recent new towns,it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay,and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma Wan Chung in the north-western coast of Lantau Island. The area was once an important defence stronghold against pirates and foreign military during the Ming and the Qing dynasties.
Ma Wan is an island of Hong Kong,located between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island,with an area of 0.97 square kilometres. Administratively,it is part of Tsuen Wan District.
The kai-to,sometimes kaito or kaido is a type of small,motorised ferry that operates in Hong Kong. They are usually used to serve remote coastal settlements in the territory's outlying islands.
The Airport Core Programme (ACP) was a series of infrastructure projects centred on the new Hong Kong International Airport during the early 1990s. The programme was part of the Port and Airport Development Strategy,commonly known as the Rose Garden Project.
Rural committee is a body representing the welfare of indigenous residents in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The chairman of each rural committee is the representative in the Heung Yee Kuk,and is ex officio member of a district council.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a special area to protect wildlife,habitats and geographic features based on scientific interest in Hong Kong. Scientific interests are special features relating to animal life,plant life,geology and/or geography. After being identified by the Agriculture,Fisheries and Conservation Department,these areas are documented by the Planning Department and added to maps. From 1975 to 2005,67 locations were designated SSSIs throughout Hong Kong.
Articles related to Hong Kong include:
Tsing Chau Tsai Peninsula is the peninsula located at the northeast of Lantau Island,New Territories,Hong Kong,including Yam O,To Kau Wan,Tai Tsing Chau,Tsing Chau Tsai and Penny's Bay. It administratively belongs to Tsuen Wan District,while the remaining areas of Lantau Island belong to Islands District. It is an exclave and it is only connected by Kap Shui Mun Bridge with other part of Tsuen Wan District,like Ma Wan.