“What stories could this stone tell?” That’s what I always ask myself. Right here we find the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239\u7f79\u96e3\u7d00\u5ff5\u7891 Hazard memorial. It stands as a reminder of a maritime tragedy. It is a memorial to those lost in the sinking of the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239.
In the old days, three ships sailed between Hong Kong and Macau. The \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 was one of them. The others were the Tak Sing and Tai Lai. They hold a special place in many memories. Each ship had its own history. Let’s explore the story of the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239.
The \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 sank in 1971 near Hong Kong. A major maritime accident made headlines. But this wasn’t the first time the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 faced disaster.
Built in 1933 by the Hong Kong Taikoo Navigation Company, the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 served for only six years before another accident. In 1939, en route from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, it ran aground. Passengers were safe. They waited for rescue at Aizhouyang. During this time, war engulfed Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 was sold during the Pacific War. It was renamed the “Hong Kong Maru”.
In 1951, the Yau Wing Shipping Company bought the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239. It began service between Hong Kong and Macau. For twenty years, it served the residents. This service lasted until the 1971 disaster.
On August 16, 1971, Typhoon Rose hit the Pearl River Delta. The \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 was scheduled to sail from Hong Kong to Macau at 10 a.m. The Hong Kong Observatory raised a No. 7 gale signal. It is now equivalent to the No. 8 Northeast Gale Signal. The captain decided to stay in Hong Kong to avoid the typhoon.
That night, strong winds and waves battered the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239. The anchor broke. It drifted to Basalt Island. Eventually it sank. Only four people survived. Eighty-eight crew members died.
Today, a stone monument stands on Basalt Island. It commemorates the victims of the \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239 disaster. The \u4f5b\u5c71\u8f2a\u8239\u7f79\u96e3\u7d00\u5ff5\u7891 serves as a solemn reminder of the lives lost. It honors their memory.