Po_Toi
Po Toi
Island in Hong Kong
Po Toi (commonly Chinese: 蒲台島, originally Chinese: 蒲苔島) is the main island of the Po Toi Islands and the southernmost[1] island of Hong Kong, with an area of 3.69 km2.[2]
蒲台島 | |
|---|---|
Tsui Wah Ferry vessel arriving at Po Toi public pier | |
Location of Po Toi Island within Hong Kong | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 3.69 km2 (1.42 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Po Toi | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 蒲台島 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 蒲台岛 | ||||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 蒲苔島 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 蒲苔岛 | ||||||||||||
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It is said that the island used to produce dried seaweeds (苔), which were shaped like the cattail hassock (蒲團) used by the monks for sitting; therefore the island was originally called 蒲苔島, the present common name being a corruption. Another explanation states that Po Toi looks like a floating platform (浮台) when viewed from a distance on sea. 蒲 is another character meaning "to float" in the local dialect, thus giving the island its name.
Po Toi is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy.[3]
The island historically had a maximum of about 1,000 fishermen and farmers, whose economic activity consisted mainly of fishing, farming and seaweed harvesting.[4] The population lived mainly in two villages, Chang Shek Pai (長石排) and Shan Liu (山寮). The population decreased sharply over the past decades, with the younger generations moving to the city.[5]
Po Toi is an important birding hotspot in Hong Kong, with over 350 species recorded.[6] However the numbers are declining like elsewhere in Hong Kong, the rather degraded environmental situation around the village being one of the factors.
Po Toi is famous for its rock formations, such as the Buddha's Palm Cliff (佛手巖), the Coffin Rock (棺材石), the Tortoise Rock (靈龜上山) and the Monk Rock (僧人石).[7][8][9]
Ancient rock carvings on the island, believed to date back to the Bronze Age (around 1500–700 BC),[10] were discovered in the 1960s. They have been listed as declared monuments of Hong Kong[11][12][13] since 1979.[14] These may be viewed on a spur-track on the track that runs between the main harbour (Tai Wan), and the lighthouse.
A Tin Hau Temple is located on Po Toi, facing the bay of Tai Wan (大灣). While its construction date is unknown, it is documented that the temple was renovated in 1893.[4][15]
Mo's Old House, or the "Deserted Mansion of Family Mo" (巫氏廢宅), usually referred to as the "Haunted House",[16] is a popular venue of "adventure" for the young visitors. The existing house was built in the 1930s at Chang Shek Pai and has fallen into ruins.[5]
There is a lighthouse on Po Toi also known as Nam Kok Tsui Lighthouse.[17]
Po Toi Island is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 96, which contains a single aided school, Northern Lamma School on Lamma Island; no government primary schools are in this net.[18]
The island is accessible by kai-to or water taxi. Tsui Wah Ferry provides scheduled ferry services connecting Po Toi Island with Aberdeen and Stanley.[19][20]
The climax of John le Carré's novel The Honourable Schoolboy (the second in the 'Karla trilogy', featuring George Smiley) takes place on Po Toi.[21]
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- "LCQ11: Public facilities on Po Toi Island". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- Lands Department (February 2011), Hong Kong Geographic Data (PDF), retrieved 26 November 2011
- "List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy" (PDF). Lands Department. September 2009.
- Brief Information on proposed Grade Nil Items. Item #1254. Tin Hau Temple Archived 15 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- Brief Information on proposed Grade Nil Items. Item #1207. Mo's Old House Archived 15 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- "Draft Po Toi Islands Outline Zoning Plan No. S/I-PTI/D" (PDF). Town Planning Board. 13 February 2015.
- "Rocks in Po Toi", Varsity, Issue 118, December 2006
- Exploring Islands. Po Toi sights: Supine Monk
- Meacham, William (2008). The Archaeology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 123–129. ISBN 978-962-209-925-8.
- Exploring islands. Po Toi sights: Rock Carving
- Davis, S.G.; Edelstein, Shirlee; Madeleine H., Tang (26 September 1973). "Rock Carvings in Hong Kong and the New Territories". Asian Perspectives. 17 (1): 1–4.
- Exploring islands. Po Toi sights: Tin Hau Temple, Po Toi
- Exploring islands. Po Toi sights: The Old Mansion of Family Mo
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of China: Hong Kong". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- "POA School Net 96" (PDF). Education Bureau. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- Cornwell, David (1977). The Honourable Schoolboy. Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 696–738. ISBN 978-0-340-93762-4.
- Delineation of area of existing village Po Toi (Lamma South) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)
- Pictures of Po Toi Island:
- CentaMap map of Po Toi Island
- Chan, Cardin (16 April 2020). "Meet the Masters Behind Hong Kong's Most Extraordinary Bamboo Theatre". Zolima Citymag.
- Hong Kong Bird Watching Society: Proposal for a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Support for Country Park Designation on Po Toi Island, October 2012