Outlying Islands, Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
In 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...

, the Outlying Islands are the groups of islands that surround Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...

 as well as Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...

 and the New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...

 on the mainland. There are 236 islands in Hong Kong, the majority of which are part of Islands District in the south and southwest, Sai Kung District
Sai Kung District
Sai Kung District is the second largest district in Hong Kong in terms of area. It comprises the southern half of Sai Kung Peninsula and Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories plus a strip to the east of Kowloon. The administrative centre is Sai Kung Town but the district's population is...

 in the southeast and Tai Po District
Tai Po District
Tai Po District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It covers the areas of Tai Po, Tai Po Kau, Ting Kok, Plover Cove and the northern part of Sai Kung Peninsula on both shores of Tolo Channel. It is located in the New Territories...

 and North District
North District, Hong Kong
North District is the northernmost district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The new town of Fanling-Sheung Shui is within this district. It had a population of 298,657 in 2001. The district has the second lowest population density.It...

 in the northeast. The term outlying is not strictly defined and in some cases islands very close to Hong Kong Island and the mainland are not included.

Inconvenient transportation meant that development came relatively late compared to other parts of Hong Kong, and many islands are still little affected. Many of the outlying islands are sparsely inhabited and remain largely rural, although significant traditional villages and towns exist on the islands of Lantau
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...

, Peng Chau
Peng Chau
Peng Chau is a small island located off the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, which has an area of 0.99 km².Peng Chau is known for its small island lifestyle, accessibility to fresh seafood, and several temples located around the island...

, Lamma
Lamma Island
Lamma Island , also known as Pok Liu Chau or simply Pok Liu , is the third largest island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.-Name:...

 and Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island, is nicknamed as the 'dumbbell island' for its shape. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 23,000 up to 2006...

.

However development has occurred. The island of Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi , or Tsing Yi Island is an island in the urban area of Hong Kong, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island and south of Tsuen Wan. With an area of 10.69 km², the island has extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau and Chau...

 became part of Tsuen Wan New Town
Tsuen Wan New Town
Tsuen Wan New Town is a new town in Hong Kong. It spans over Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and the eastern part of Tsing Yi Island. Traditionally, the officials of Tsuen Wan managed the area of proper Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi Island, Ma Wan and Northeast Lantau Island.In 1982 the Tsuen Wan...

 in the late 1970s, and is now linked to the mainland by several road and rail bridges. In the 1980s, Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is a mixed, primarily residential, development comprising a residential development and private and public recreational facilities in Hong Kong. It is situated on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island in the New Territories. The development spans an area of 650 hectares , and...

 was privately developed as an upmarket residential area on Lantau, served by a fast ferry service to the business district at Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...

. In the 1990s, the development of the new Hong Kong Airport, off the north shore of Lantau, led to the creation of a road and rail link to that island and the development of 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...

, previously a small settlement, into a new town adjacent to the airport. As a result of this improved access, further developments on Lantau followed, including a road link to Discovery Bay, and the development of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a resort built by the Government of Hong Kong and The Walt Disney Company in Hong Kong on reclaimed land beside Penny's Bay, at the northeastern tip of Lantau Island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay...

.

The more rural islands, and still rural areas of Lantau, are popular recreation spots for urban dwellers on Sundays and holidays.

Ferry services

Ferry/Kai-to services to the outlying islands run as follows:
  • Central
    Central, Hong Kong
    Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...

     to Peng Chau
    Peng Chau
    Peng Chau is a small island located off the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong, which has an area of 0.99 km².Peng Chau is known for its small island lifestyle, accessibility to fresh seafood, and several temples located around the island...

    , Cheung Chau
    Cheung Chau
    Cheung Chau is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island, is nicknamed as the 'dumbbell island' for its shape. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 23,000 up to 2006...

    , Lamma Island
    Lamma Island
    Lamma Island , also known as Pok Liu Chau or simply Pok Liu , is the third largest island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.-Name:...

    , Mui Wo
    Mui Wo
    Mui Wo is a rural town on the eastern coast of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The main beach in Mui Wo is known as Silver Mine Bay .-History:...

    , Discovery Bay
    Discovery Bay
    Discovery Bay is a mixed, primarily residential, development comprising a residential development and private and public recreational facilities in Hong Kong. It is situated on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island in the New Territories. The development spans an area of 650 hectares , and...

     and Park Island
    Park Island
    Park Island is a private housing estate located at Ma Wan, an island in Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong. It was mainly developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties as part of the Ma Wan Development joint venture project and completed from 2002 to 2006 in six phases.-Phases:* Phase 1 comprises 2,569...

     (Tsing Yi).
  • Sam Ka Tsuen
    Yau Tong
    Yau Tong is an area in the eastern Kowloon, Hong Kong, located between Lei Yue Mun and Lam Tin, at the east shore of Victoria Harbour. Administratively, it is under Kwun Tong District....

     to Tung Lung Island
  • Aberdeen to Lamma Island
    Lamma Island
    Lamma Island , also known as Pok Liu Chau or simply Pok Liu , is the third largest island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.-Name:...

  • Aberdeen and Stanley
    Stanley, Hong Kong
    Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...

     to Po Toi Island
  • Ma Liu Shui
    Ma Liu Shui
    Ma Liu Shui or originally Ma Niu Shui is an area in Sha Tin District, in the New Territories, Hong Kong.The area faces Tide Cove and Tolo Harbour...

     to Grass Island
    Grass Island
    Grass Island can refer to* Grass Island, Hong Kong* Grass Island * Grass Island * Grass Island, a small island located in the Midway Island chain. The coordinates are: 27°46'28.31 N 175°54'24.38 W...

  • Tuen Mun
    Tuen Mun
    Tuen Mun is a town near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in Hong Kong which can be dated back to the Neolithic period. In the more recent past, it was home to many Tanka fishermen who gathered at the Castle...

     to 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...

  • Wong Shek
    Wong Shek
    Wong Shek is an area in the northern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong. It is under the administration of Tai Po District. In the area, there are picnic facilities with views of the sea...

     pier to Grass Island
    Grass Island
    Grass Island can refer to* Grass Island, Hong Kong* Grass Island * Grass Island * Grass Island, a small island located in the Midway Island chain. The coordinates are: 27°46'28.31 N 175°54'24.38 W...

  • Sha Tau Kok
    Sha Tau Kok Public Pier
    Sha Tau Kok Public Pier or Sha Tau Kok Pier is a public pier in Sha Tau Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is located at the easternmost of the land boundary between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and lies to the west of the former Sha Tau Kwok Public Pier....

     pier to Kat O
    Kat O
    Kat O or Crooked Island is an island of Hong Kong located in the north-east of the territory. Administratively, it is part of North District.-Geography:...


See also

  • Islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong
    Islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong
    Hong Kong comprises the Kowloon peninsula and 263 islands over 500 m2, the largest being Lantau Island and the second largest being Hong Kong Island. Ap Lei Chau is one of the most densely populated islands in the world....

  • Kai-to
    Kai-to
    The kai-to is a type of small, motorized ferry operating in Hong Kong. They are usually used to serve remote coastal settlements in the territory's outlying islands....

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