High Island (Hong Kong)


High Island or Leung Shuen Wan Chau is a former island in the southeast of Sai Kung Peninsula, Hong Kong.
The island is now connected to the peninsula by two dams that enclosed the Kwun Mun Channel, thereby forming the High Island Reservoir. The dams were constructed between 1969 and 1979. The area is part of the Sai Kung East Country Park.
The water body near Leung Shuen Wan is a designated fish culture zone and its shore features several seafood restaurants.

Geography

High Island historically had an area of 8.511 km² and was in 1960 the 4th largest island of Hong Kong. The body of water to the southwest of the former island is called Rocky Harbour or Leung Shuen Wan Hoi.

Population

There are four villages on High Island, namely: Pak A, Tung A, Sha Kiu and Pak Lap. They are all located along the west coast. In 2006, a few dozen people lived in these four villages, and about 100 people lived in designated fish culture zones.

Tin Hau Temple

There is a Tin Hau Temple 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. The other is the Tin Hau Temple in Tap Mun which has it once every ten years. 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. The temple was listed as a Grade II historic building in 1996, and as a Grade III historic building in 2010.

Transportation

There are public piers in Pak A, Tung A and Sha Kiu, but there is no public ferry service to High Island. Sai Kung Man Yee Road runs through the northern part of High Island, roughly along High Island Reservoir, from West Dam to East Dam.

Refugee camp

A refugee camp was built near 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.