Kau Yi Chau

Gazing across the waters, the silhouette of Kau Yi Chau rises, a solitary sentinel between Hong Kong Island and Lantau Island. Kau Yi Chau, meaning “chair island” in Cantonese, earns its name from its unique chair-like shape. This uninhabited island, a quiet presence amidst bustling waterways, holds a history as intriguing as its form. Kau Yi Chau stands as a crossroads of sea routes. The ferry navigating between Central on Hong Kong Island and Mui Wo on Lantau Island passes close to its southern shore. The island itself, however, remains isolated, accessible only by private means. Atop Kau Yi Chau, a radar station keeps watch. Since 1994, wave measurement monitors have tracked the surrounding waters, adding a touch of modernity to this historic isle. Kau Yi Chau’s geography is stark yet compelling. Its highest point reaches a mere 120 meters. Cliffs dominate the southern side, while the rest of the island is a tapestry of Qing Dynasty tombs, woods, and rugged rocks. Chun Hoi Shek stands as a prominent landmark. The island’s tranquility was shattered in 1971. The USS Regulus, a US Navy ship, sought refuge from Typhoon Rose, only to run aground on Kau Yi Chau. Despite weeks of effort, the damage proved too severe, leaving the Regulus to rest in the island’s embrace. Kau Yi Chau has also been at the heart of ambitious, yet unrealized development plans. It featured prominently in the Port and Airport Development Strategy. A container port was envisioned in the waters between Kau Yi Chau and Lantau, linked by a cross-harbor tunnel to a reclaimed Green Island. These grand designs, however, never materialized due to disagreements between British and Chinese governments. More recently, Kau Yi Chau found itself central to the East Lantau Metropolis project, a proposal to reclaim land around the island. Envisioned as Hong Kong’s third Central Business District, this metropolis, with a projected population of 700,000, remains a vision for the future. Kau Yi Chau, a silent witness to history and the focus of future aspirations, remains an enigmatic presence in the waters of Hong Kong. Its unique shape, its quiet resilience, and its strategic location ensure that Kau Yi Chau will continue to captivate the imagination.