Can you imagine a former island, transformed? Ngong Shuen Chau Teng, once known as Stonecutters Island, has a captivating history. It’s no longer an island. Land reclamation joined it to the Kowloon Peninsula. Ngong Shuen Chau Teng’s English name comes from its early use as a quarry. The British used it for quarrying after receiving it from the Qing dynasty in 1860. Imagine the sounds of chisels against stone echoing across the harbor. In the 1850s, Ngong Shuen Chau Teng even housed a prison.
Ngong Shuen Chau Teng wasn’t just rocks and convicts though. It was also a strategic military location. A Royal Navy radio interception station operated here from 1935. It played a vital role in intelligence gathering during the tense years leading up to World War II. The island then fell to the Japanese in 1941. During their occupation, the island became a snake farm. Venom was extracted for antidotes, a chilling reminder of the war’s impact.
After World War II, Ngong Shuen Chau Teng continued its military history. It hosted British Army units and ammunition storage. The island even offered rest and recuperation for soldiers. Chalet-style bungalows were built, centered around a shop, restaurant, and swimming pool. The island also housed a commercial explosives factory run by Jardine Matheson and DuPont. It supplied the growing demand for blasting explosives in the colony.
In the 1970s and 80s, a Royal Navy Hovercraft unit was based on Ngong Shuen Chau Teng. It helped with anti-illegal immigration operations. The island was policed by Indian Sikhs. They were chosen because they traditionally abstain from smoking and alcohol. They were known for their love of field hockey, often playing barefoot.
Ngong Shuen Chau Teng’s transformation continued after Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997. The naval base is now operated by the People’s Liberation Army Navy. The island became a key part of the infrastructure supporting the new Hong Kong International Airport. A large sewage treatment facility was also built, dramatically cleaning up Victoria Harbour.
Now connected to Kowloon, Ngong Shuen Chau Teng stands as a testament to its multifaceted past. From a quarry to a prison, a military base to a place of leisure, this former island’s story continues to unfold. It’s a story of change, adaptation, and the enduring power of place. As you gaze at Ngong Shuen Chau Teng, remember the echoes of its past. They resonate beneath the modern landscape, whispering tales of a former island.