Kau Yi Chau

Kau Yi Chau ( _zh. 交椅洲, formerly Kau I Island or Kau-i-chau), also known as Tai Kau Yi Chau (大交椅洲), is an island between Peng Chau and Green Island in Hong Kong. West of Victoria Harbour, it is located on the crossroad of sea routes, east to west and north to south. Ferry between Central of Hong Kong Island and Mui Wo of Lantau Island sails across the island south.

Location

The island is isolated from other islands. To its east are Green Island, Little Green Island and Hong Kong Island. To its west are Siu Kau Yi Chau, Peng Chau. To its southwest are Sunshine Island and Hei Ling Chau. To its northwest is the Lantau Island.

Geography

The island is no higher than Convert|120|m|ft|0|abbr=on. A radar station situated south of its peak. Wave measurement monitors the wave surrounding since 1994 [ [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/services/modeling/index.htm Digital Tidal Stream Atlas and Wave Measurement (CEDD)] ] . The island south is largely cliff and island is uninhabited. Other than radar station, the island left Qing tombs, woods and rocks. Chun Hoi Shek (鎮海石) is one of major spot on the island. As uninhabited, no regular transport was set up for the island.

Name

Kau Yi (交椅) means chair in Cantonese language for the island shape. It is also known as Tai Kau Yi (大交椅) as it is a larger chair, comparing to Siu Kau Yi (小交椅), a smaller chair, on its west.

Development

The island was part of the blueprint of Port and Airport Development Strategy. A container port was drawn between the proposed reclamation between Lantau Island and Kau Yi Chau. A proposed cross harbour tunnel connects the reclamation and another proposed reclamation of Green Island. The plan was not realised as a result of prolong disagreement between the governments of British and PRC.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.hkwet.coms.ws/island17.htm Article and pictures] (in Chinese)
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&om=1&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=22.28449,114.078941&spn=0.008915,0.014634&t=k Aerial picture on Google Maps]