Whispers of a dark past linger here at Hei Ling Pai. Hei Ling Pai is not just a coastline. It is an island with a complex history. Today we explore the story of Hei Ling Chau. It’s an island that has seen suffering and transformation.
Originally, Hei Ling Chau was known as Nai Gu Chau. This translates to Nun’s Island. In the late 19th century, families settled here. By 1950, about 100 people called it home.
After World War II, Hong Kong faced challenges. Poor hygiene and poverty led to a rise in leprosy cases. The government needed a place to isolate and treat those affected. So they chose Nai Gu Chau.
Residents were relocated. The island was renamed Hei Ling Chau. This new name meant Island of Happy Healing. But the name belied the island’s true purpose. It became a leper colony or a leprosarium.
In the 1960s, Hei Ling Chau housed as many as 540 patients. It was an isolated community. They were separated from the rest of Hong Kong. Leprosy was a feared disease. Patients faced difficult conditions.
By the 1970s, leprosy cases declined. A cure was found. The leprosarium closed in 1974. Remaining patients moved to Lai Chi Kok Hospital.
Hei Ling Chau then took on a new role. The Correctional Services Department took over. In the 1980s, it became a Vietnamese refugee camp. This camp housed people fleeing Vietnam.
Later, Hei Ling Chau became home to a medium-security prison. It also housed three government-run drug rehab centers. The largest was the Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre. The island became a place for those struggling with addiction and incarceration.
A proposal to build a super jail on the island in 2004 was scrapped due to public outcry.
Hei Ling Chau has two Tin Hau Temples. One was built in 1925. It is now used as a store room. The other was built in 1985.
Despite its dark history, Hei Ling Chau offers hope. The Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre provides support for those battling substance abuse.
Hei Ling Chau is also home to unique wildlife. Bogadek’s blind skink was discovered here. It’s a rare legless lizard. The island provides a safe haven for this species.
Hei Ling Chau shows resilience. It has transformed from a leper colony to a rehabilitation center. It is an island of contrasts. The name Island of Happy Healing may seem ironic. Yet, it also reflects hope and the possibility of change.