Chek Lap Kok
Encyclopedia
Chek Lap Kok was an island in the western waters of Hong Kong
. Together with the smaller Lam Chau
, it was leveled and merged via land reclamation
into the platform for the current Hong Kong International Airport
, which opened for commercial operations in 1998. The airport is therefore popularly referred to as Chek Lap Kok Airport.
Hong Kong SkyCity
, a business and entertainment complex, is also located on Chek Lap Kok. It includes AsiaWorld-Expo
, a convention and exhibition centre, which opened in 2005. Cathay Pacific City, the head office of Cathay Pacific
, and the head offices of Dragonair
and Hong Kong Airlines are also located on the airport platform.
('chek lap', 赤鱲), or that the fish was once abundant in its vicinity.
off Ma Wan Chung and Tung Chung
. Before the building of the airport platform, it was a small and hilly island, about 4 km long, with an area of 3.02 km² (other sources mention 2.8 km2). The southern end of the island formed a small peninsula, which has been left largely undeveloped. This area is facing Tung Chung and is now named "Scenic Hill". It is the site of the Ancient Kiln Park and the Airport Island Angle Station of the Ngong Ping 360
cable car.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the inhabitants of the island practiced farming, including rice cultivation, and quarrying. Their population was about 200 in the 1950s, raising sharply in the 1960s. It later declined, with some 20 families remaining on the island when the plan for the construction of a new airport was announced in the early 1990s.
Archeological surveys and investigations were conducted on the island starting in the late 1970s. A salvage archaeology project started on October 15, 1990.
The original farming and fishing villages on the island were relocated to Chek Lap Kok Village (赤鱲角村) near Tung Chung on Lantau Island. A Tin Hau Temple
had been built in 1823 at the north east of the island. The entire temple was built of granite quarried on the island. It was dismantled in 1991 and rebuilt in 1994 at its present location.
Also, Romer's Tree Frog
(Philautus romeri), a unique species
of finger-sized frog
found only in Hong Kong, was relocated from Chek Lap Kok to new habitat
s on Lantau Island before construction of the airport.
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...
. Together with the smaller Lam Chau
Lam Chau
Lam Chau was one of the two original islands that made up the site of the current Hong Kong International Airport.The small island lay to the west of Chek Lap Kok and north of Lantau Island. It had an area of 0.08 km² and was long. It had a narrow rocky shoreline and small hills covered by...
, it was leveled and merged via land reclamation
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
into the platform for the current Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
, which opened for commercial operations in 1998. The airport is therefore popularly referred to as Chek Lap Kok Airport.
Hong Kong SkyCity
Hong Kong SkyCity
Hong Kong SkyCity is a large business and entertainment complex adjacent to the Hong Kong International Airport, and is built on land owned by the Airport Authority Hong Kong...
, a business and entertainment complex, is also located on Chek Lap Kok. It includes AsiaWorld-Expo
AsiaWorld-Expo
The AsiaWorld-Expo is one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong along with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was opened on 21 December 2005 by Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and it is operated by AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited...
, a convention and exhibition centre, which opened in 2005. Cathay Pacific City, the head office of Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
, and the head offices of Dragonair
Dragonair
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited , operating as Dragonair, is an international airline and flag carrier headquartered in Hong Kong; with its corporate headquarters, Dragonair House Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (T: 港龍航空有限公司, S: 港龙航空有限公司, Cantonese: gong2 lung4 hong4 hung1 jau5 haan6 gung1 si1,...
and Hong Kong Airlines are also located on the airport platform.
Name
The name of the island may be derived from the bareness of the island ('da chek lak'), that the shape of the island resembles the red tripletail perchPerch (disambiguation)
Perch may refer to:*Perch , a surname *The USS Perch, multiple ships with the name*Perch , antique unit of measure of length, area or volume, depending on context, used in medieval France and the British Isles...
('chek lap', 赤鱲), or that the fish was once abundant in its vicinity.
Geography
The island is located north of Lantau IslandLantau 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...
off Ma Wan Chung and Tung Chung
Tung Chung
Tung Chung, meaning 'eastern stream', is an area situated on the north-western coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Tung Chung, currently one of the latest generation of new towns, was formerly a rural village around Tung Chung Wan, and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma...
. Before the building of the airport platform, it was a small and hilly island, about 4 km long, with an area of 3.02 km² (other sources mention 2.8 km2). The southern end of the island formed a small peninsula, which has been left largely undeveloped. This area is facing Tung Chung and is now named "Scenic Hill". It is the site of the Ancient Kiln Park and the Airport Island Angle Station of the Ngong Ping 360
Ngong Ping 360
The Ngong Ping 360 is a tourism project on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The project was previously known as Tung Chung Cable Car Project before acquiring the Ngong Ping 360 brand in April 2005...
cable car.
History
The island has been inhabited on and off since the Middle Neolithic period 6,000 years ago.During the 19th and 20th centuries, the inhabitants of the island practiced farming, including rice cultivation, and quarrying. Their population was about 200 in the 1950s, raising sharply in the 1960s. It later declined, with some 20 families remaining on the island when the plan for the construction of a new airport was announced in the early 1990s.
Archeological surveys and investigations were conducted on the island starting in the late 1970s. A salvage archaeology project started on October 15, 1990.
The original farming and fishing villages on the island were relocated to Chek Lap Kok Village (赤鱲角村) near Tung Chung on Lantau Island. A Tin Hau Temple
Tin 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...
had been built in 1823 at the north east of the island. The entire temple was built of granite quarried on the island. It was dismantled in 1991 and rebuilt in 1994 at its present location.
Also, Romer's Tree Frog
Romer's Tree Frog
Romer's Tree Frog is a species of frog endemic to Hong Kong. With an average snout-vent length of 1.5 - 2.5 cm, it is the smallest amphibian recorded in the territory. Despite its common name, it belongs to the Rhacophoridae family, instead of the Hylidae.-Physical descriptions:The female frog is...
(Philautus romeri), a unique species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of finger-sized frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
found only in Hong Kong, was relocated from Chek Lap Kok to new habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
s on Lantau Island before construction of the airport.