The island was formerly known as Keui Island.[2] 'Kau Sai Chau', the transliteration of the Chinese name through the Hong Kong Government Cantonese Romanisation system, was later adopted as its English name.
Geography
Kau Sai Chau is located south of the Sai Kung Peninsula. Its northern shore forms part of the southern limit of Port Shelter Sheltered Water, of which it is the largest island.[3] Kau Sai Chau is connected in the north by a breakwater to the smaller island Yim Tin Tsai. The southern tip of the island is separated by a narrow channel from Jin Island. It has a maximum elevation of 216 m.[4]
Kau Sai Fishermen Village is a small fishing hamlet with about ten houses. It is located at the southern tip of the island.[5]
History
At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Kau Sai Chau was 39. The number of males was 29.[6]
In 1952, Hakka farmers and shopkeepers of Kau Sai Chau were required to relocate, because the place was located in the centre of a large area of sea about to be designated as a military firing range. The villagers were resited to Kau Sai San Tsuen, off Hiram's Highway at Pak Sha Wan.[7][8]
The prehistoric rock carving was discovered in 1976. It is located on the north-western coast of the island, in a location "where accessibility by land is extremely poor".[9]
The Hung Shing Temple is located in the southern part of the island, near Kau Sai Fishermen Village, of which it is the only temple.[5] The building was built before 1889.[10] It is constructed in grey bricks with a timber roof frame. The temple has been renovated four times, in 1949, in the 1970s, in 1988 and the last being from August 1999 to February 2000.[3] The restoration was declared an "Outstanding Project" by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Awards.[11] Previously a Grade III Historic Building, the temple was declared a monument on 15 November 2002.
The Hung Shing Festival (洪聖誕) is celebrated there every year on the 12th and the 13th days of the second lunar month in Chinese calendar.[12] An opera troupe is hired to perform Cantonese operas to thank the deities. The Jiao Festival is conducted on the day before the festival.[13][14]
Leisure amenities
The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, is the only public golf course in Hong Kong. Opened in 1995, it occupies approximately the northern half of the island. It comprises three 18-hole golf courses: the North and South Courses were designed by Gary Player, while Nelson & Haworth designed the East Course.[15]
There are wild boars wandering the island. They come out typically at night and may cause serious damage to the golf course.[16]
^黃垤華 (November 1997). 學圃談舊錄 憶健社之創始. 團體會員聯合旅訊 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 香港郊野活動聯會 [The Hong Kong Federation of Countryside Activities]. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
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