Tsz Kan Chau

Sweeping across the northern waters of Lantau Island, there lies a small, unassuming islet often overlooked amidst the grandeur of Hong Kong’s bustling cityscape. This is Tsz Kan Chau, also known as Reef Island. Tsz Kan Chau is often grouped with two larger islands, Tai Mo To and Siu Mo To, collectively known as The Brothers. Tsz Kan Chau, though small, plays a significant role in the maritime history of this region. While The Brothers were once prominent, their peaks have been leveled to facilitate air traffic for the nearby Hong Kong International Airport. The material extracted from The Brothers during this process contributed significantly to the airport’s construction, forming the very foundation upon which it stands. Now, imagine Tsz Kan Chau as a silent observer, witnessing this dramatic transformation. Tsz Kan Chau remains untouched, a testament to the resilience of nature amidst human endeavors. It stands as a quiet reminder of the area’s past, while its larger siblings have been reshaped to accommodate the demands of the future. The surrounding waters, encompassing The Brothers and Tsz Kan Chau, are now protected as the Brothers Marine Park. Established in December 2016, this marine park serves a vital purpose. It’s a sanctuary for the Chinese white dolphin, a species whose habitat was unfortunately impacted by the leveling of The Brothers. The marine park aims not only to preserve the dolphins and their delicate ecosystem, but also to nurture the marine life and fishing resources within its boundaries. Tsz Kan Chau, nestled within this protected area, continues to hold its own, a small but integral part of Hong Kong’s intricate tapestry of land and sea. This small islet, once a simple reef, has become a symbol of preservation amidst progress, a quiet guardian of the past in the shadow of the future.