Located in Ap Chau Bay lies a small island called Ap Chau Pak Tun Pai. It is part of the North District. Ap Chau Pak Tun Pai is located west of Ap Chau. But don’t mix it up. It is not to be confused with Ap Chau Mei Pak Tun Pai. That island is much closer to Ap Chau.
Ap Chau Pak Tun Pai is a very small island. It sits in the waters of Ap Chau Bay. This bay is next to Ap Chau.
Ap Chau itself is also quite small. It only measures 0.04 square kilometers. Ap Chau is also known as Robinson Island. You can find it in the Crooked Harbour. This is in the northeastern New Territories of Hong Kong. Several smaller islands are nearby. These include Ap Chau Mei Pak Tun Pai, Ap Lo Chun, Ap Tan Pai, and Kau Tau Shek. Ap Chau is known as the smallest inhabited island in Hong Kong.
Robinson Island got its name from Hercules Robinson. He was the 5th Governor of Hong Kong. He later became the 1st Baron Rosmead.
Ap Chau was once uninhabited. In the 1920s, Tanka fishermen arrived. They came to anchor their boats. They used the land to dry their nets and repair their boats. These fishermen were not originally Chinese.
In the 1940s, some fishermen settled permanently on Ap Chau. They built informal settlements. In 1949, power shifted in mainland China. The True Jesus Church moved its operations to Sha Tau Kok. Later, they moved to Ap Chau. In 1952, they built a wooden church. After the church was built, converted fishermen moved to the island. They gathered there to pray. In 1965, the wooden church was replaced with a concrete one.
In 1960, a fresh water supply was installed. This was made possible through financial aid from the United States CARE program. The water came from a new reservoir in So Lo Pun. Underground pipes carried the water. Locals constructed the pipes with help from the British Military.
Ap Chau Fishermen Village was built in 1961. Local fishermen and their families set it up. The United States CARE program and the British Government provided financial aid.
The island’s primary school opened in 1958. It was called FMO Ap Chau Primary School. At its peak, Ap Chau had over 700 residents. But most moved to cities in the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. They went to places like Newcastle upon Tyne, Leicester, Sunderland, Elgin, and Edinburgh.
Before Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty, Ap Chau was close to mainland China. This made it a magnet for illegal immigrants. The well-lit public lavatory block served as a beacon at night.
The church on the island is still active. As of October 2017, only 3 permanent residents lived on the island.
To boost tourism, the Ap Chau Story Room opened in April 2018. It is open to the public on Sundays and public holidays. The government repurposed the abandoned FMO Ap Chau Primary School to create the Story Room.
The Duck’s Eye Sea Arch is on the northern end of Ap Chau. It is also called Ap Chau Sea Arch. It is a natural arch formed by seawater erosion. The arch is 2 meters tall and 10 meters wide. It is the only sea arch in Hong Kong safe to walk through. It stands above sea level. It is a popular spot for sightseeing.
Today, fresh water in Ap Chau comes from mainland China. It arrives through an underground pipe. The northern part of Ap Chau is part of the Double Haven Special Area. It was designated in 2011. The Special Area includes other islets as well.
Remember Ap Chau Pak Tun Pai as a place of quiet beauty. It reflects a rich history.