Tai A Chau
Encyclopedia
Tai A Chau is an uninhabited island
of Hong Kong
, part of the Soko Islands
group, located south of Lantau Island
. It is referred to as South Soko Island in some media articles.
was built. In 1937, Walter Schofield, then a Cadet Officer in the Hong Kong Civil Service, wrote "There is a shrimp paste factory here which
exports to Europe and America". Tai A Chau Detention Centre was home to thousands of Vietnamese refugees from 1991 to 1996. The centre was closed prior to the handover in 1997 and all
the building structures were demolished.
and seven earth shrines.
Two helicopter landing pads and a small jetty remain from the Detention Centre episode.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, part of the Soko Islands
Soko Islands
The Soko Islands are a group of islands in Hong Kong. The group consists of Tai A Chau, Siu A Chau and several smaller nearby islands, in the southwestermost waters of the territory, to the southwest of Lantau Island....
group, located south of Lantau Island
Lantau Island
Lantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
. It is referred to as South Soko Island in some media articles.
Geography
With an area of 1.19 km², Tai A Chau is the largest of the Soko Islands. It is located 4.5 km to the south of Lantau Island and about 2 km north of the boundary of the Hong Kong territorial waters. The island has small hills with heights ranging from 85m to 154m. Its coastline is mainly steeply sloped and rocky in nature.History
There were historically two villages on the island: Ha Tsuen and Sheung Tsuen on the west and south sides of the island. The villagers left in the 1980s, when a detention camp for Vietnamese refugeesVietnamese people in Hong Kong
Many of the Vietnamese people in Hong Kong immigrated as a result of the war and persecution in Vietnam since the mid-1970s. There is however also small but growing community of diaspora vietnamese being sent to Hong Kong forming an expatriate community, from countries far afield like Australia,...
was built. In 1937, Walter Schofield, then a Cadet Officer in the Hong Kong Civil Service, wrote "There is a shrimp paste factory here which
exports to Europe and America". Tai A Chau Detention Centre was home to thousands of Vietnamese refugees from 1991 to 1996. The centre was closed prior to the handover in 1997 and all
the building structures were demolished.
Features
The island has a temple dedicated to Tin HauTin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
and seven earth shrines.
Two helicopter landing pads and a small jetty remain from the Detention Centre episode.