Here stands the Ma Wan Rural Committee. This island of Hong Kong sits between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island. Ma Wan covers just 0.97 square kilometers. It belongs to Tsuen Wan District.
Ma Wan’s history stretches back to prehistoric times. Late Neolithic inhabitants once called this island home. Recent excavations prove it. People also lived here during the Han Dynasty.
More recently, about 250 years ago, Tin Liu village emerged. It was a small fishing village only accessible by boat. The Chan family from Tsing Yi Island founded it.
The Hong Kong Government’s Rose Garden plan changed Ma Wan forever. The Lantau Link was built in the mid-1990s. It connected the new Hong Kong International Airport to the city center. This highway link passes through Ma Wan. Plans to develop the island soon followed.
Today, Park Island occupies a large part of Ma Wan. This private housing estate transformed the island. A theme park called Ma Wan Park was proposed. Its first phase opened on July 1, 2007.
Two channels define Ma Wan’s geography. The Ma Wan Channel separates it from Tsing Yi Island to the east. Kap Shui Mun separates it from Lantau Island to the southwest.
The north seafront faces Tsing Lung Tau. It also faces Sham Tseng on the mainland New Territories. The south looks out to the small Tang Lung Chau island.
Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach offers a place for recreation. Temples dedicated to the goddess Tin Hau dot the island. One was rebuilt on the northern beach. Local pirate Cheung Po Tsai is said to have originally built it. He often looked after the locals. Another Tin Hau temple stands at the old Tin Liu village site.
Ma Wan also features several villages. Ma Wan Town is also known as Ma Wan Main Street Village. It is a former fishing village with stilt houses. Ma Wan CARE Village once housed fishermen. Tin Liu New Village and other new villages have also been built.
The Lantau Link dramatically improved transport to Ma Wan. The Tsing Ma Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge connect it to Tsing Yi and Lantau. Private vehicles face restrictions. However, taxis are permitted at all times. Ferries also connect Ma Wan to Central and Tsuen Wan.
The Ma Wan Rural Committee stands as a testament to this island’s rich past. From Neolithic settlements to modern developments, Ma Wan has transformed. It connects ancient history with contemporary life.