Ap Lei Chau

Island in Hong Kong

"Aberdeen Island" redirects here. For the Canadian island in Georgian Bay, Ontario, see List of islands of Ontario § Georgian Bay.

Ap Lei Chau

鴨脷洲

Aerial view of Ap Lei Chau, across Aberdeen Harbour (2021)

Location of Ap Lei Chau within Hong Kong

Geography
Location| South of Hong Kong Island
Coordinates| 22°14′30″N 114°9′20″E﻿ / ﻿22.24167°N 114.15556°E﻿ / 22.24167; 114.15556
Area| 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Highest elevation| 196 m (643 ft)
Highest point| Mount Johnston
Administration

Hong Kong

District| Southern District
Demographics
Population| 79,727 (2021[1])
Pop. density| 61,328/km2 (158839/sq mi)
Ap Lei Chau

Ap Lei Chau viewed from Ap Lei Chau Bridge in 2016

Traditional Chinese| 鴨脷洲
Simplified Chinese| 鸭脷洲
Cantonese Yale| Aap Leih Jāu
Literal meaning| Duck-Tongue Island
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| Yālìzhōu
Wade–Giles| Ya-li-chou
Hakka
Romanization| Ap5 Li4 Ziu1
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization| Aap Leih Jāu
Jyutping| Aap3 Lei6 Zau1
Ap Lei San
Traditional Chinese| 鴨脷山
Simplified Chinese| 鸭脷山
Literal meaning| Duck-Tongue Island
Duck-Tongue Mountain
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| Yālìshān
Wade–Giles| Ya-li-shan
Hong Kong Village
Chinese| 香港村
Literal meaning| Fragrant Harbour Village
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| Xiānggǎngcūn

Ap Lei Chau or Aberdeen Island is an island of Hong Kong, located off Hong Kong Island next to Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Channel. It has an area of 1.30 square kilometres (0.50 sq mi) after land reclamation.[2] Administratively it is part of the Southern District. Ap Lei Chau is one of the most densely populated islands on earth, as well as the most densely populated island with a population of over 10,000.

In the 2000s on their website the Guinness World Records called it the world's most densely populated island.[3]

Ap Lei Chau Bridge Road on Ap Lei Chau

## History

[edit]

Before the First Opium War, Ap Lei Chau was a small fishing village, with its harbour forming an excellent natural typhoon shelter. The island appears on a Ming-era map[4] with its primary settlement labelled "Fragrant Harbour Village". This is the probable origin of the name for Hong Kong, although the town eventually took the name of its island.

Under the terms of the 1841 Treaty of Nanking, it was ceded to the British together with Hong Kong Island. It was sometimes known as Taplichan,[5] Taplishan,[6] &c. from an alternative name for the island.

The island had a largely uneventful history under British rule.

In 1968, Hongkong Electric opened a power station on Ap Lei Chau to provide electricity for the whole of Hong Kong Island. In 1980 and 1994, a bridge was constructed to connect the island to the Hong Kong Island, and this created momentum for rapid economic development. Public housing estates were built to accommodate people, including some who had suffered in a fire in the Aberdeen typhoon shelter. In 1989, the generators of the power station were relocated to Lamma Island, and the old power station is still demolishing to this day. The nearby site was re-developed into the South Horizons residential area, with the addition of some land reclaimed from the sea.

## Geography and demographics

[edit]

Mount Johnston on Ap Lei Chau, viewed from Ocean Park

Ap Lei Chau was named after the shape of the island, which resembles the tongue of a duck. Ap means duck, Lei means tongue, and Chau means island. The northern part has the highest population, while the southern part of the island is less densely populated.

The highest point on the island is Yuk Kwai Shan (玉桂山; aka. Mount Johnston), with an altitude of 196 metres (643 ft).

It comprises four main residential areas -- Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau Main Street, South Horizons and Ap Lei Chau Estate, each of which comprises several highrise towers. There is an industrial estate on the southern tip of the island.

The population of Ap Lei Chau is 79,727.[1] The sum of the population in constituency areas D02 to D07 and its area is 1.30 square kilometres (0.50 square miles), giving it a population density of 61,328 inhabitants per square kilometre (158,840/sq mi) and making it the fourth most densely populated island in the world.[7]

Population per District Council Constituency Area  | District Council Constituency Area | Population (2021)

|
|

D02 | Ap Lei Chau Estate | 12,089
D03 | Ap Lei Chau North | 11,897
D04 | Lei Tung I | 12,307
D05 | Lei Tung II | 14,043
D06 | South Horizons East | 14,444
D07 | South Horizons West | 14,947
| Total | 79,727

Ap Lei Chau also lends its name to the Ap Lei Chau geologic formation, which covers most of Hong Kong Island.[8]

## Places of interest

[edit]

Shui Yuet Temple on Ap Lei Chau

The Hung Shing Temple located on Hung Shing Street, off Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, is a notable site. Dating back to 1773, it is the oldest temple in the Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau areas[9] and is a declared monument.

The Shui Yuet Temple aka. Kwun Yum Temple is located at No. 181 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau. Dedicated to Kwun Yum, it was built at the end of the 19th century[10] and is a Grade III historic building. The temple site is adjacent to the site of the former Aberdeen Police Station. Clearly chosen for its fung shui, the superior dragons were seen as being protection from the 'threat of the tiger's jaw' from the police station. Although the police station has now been demolished, the dragons are still present and seen as enduring feng shui guards. Apart from Kwun Yum, the temple also houses Kwan Tai, Tin Hau, Chai Kung and Wong Tai Sin.[citation needed]

## Transport

[edit]

Ap Lei Chau Bridge

Ap Lei Chau and Hong Kong Island are connected by the four-lane Ap Lei Chau Bridges. Opened in 1983, it originally only had two lanes, and was widened to four in 1994 with a duplicated bridge to the northwest of the original one.

Buses are the main form of transport for the residents in Ap Lei Chau. Bus routes depart from the six bus termini on the island to various places on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon:

* Ap Lei Chau Estate
* Ap Lei Chau (Lee Lok Street) and Ap Lei Chau (Lee King Street) in the industrial area
* Ap Lei Chau Main Street
* Lei Tung Estate
* South Horizons

Green minibuses and taxis are available. Red minibuses are prohibited from entering the island.

There is a regular sampan service running between Ap Lei Chau Main Street and Aberdeen. (Service hours: 6am-12am)

The MTR South Island line opened on 28 December 2016 links Admiralty of Hong Kong Island to Ap Lei Chau by the Aberdeen Channel Bridge, to the southeast of the Ap Lei Chau Bridges. There are two stations on the island: Lei Tung (for Lei Tung Estate and Ap Lei Chau Main Street) and South Horizons (for South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau Estate and Ap Lei Chau Industrial Estate).

## Education

[edit]

Ap Lei Chau is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 18. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and Hong Kong Southern District Government Primary School.[11]

## Community issues

[edit]

Since Ap Lei Chau is currently the fourth most densely populated island in the world, public space is highly insufficient. In 2016, the Hong Kong Government reallocated the waterfront land of the former Hong Kong Driving School on Lee Nam Road for building luxury apartments, ignoring the suggestion of the locals and intensified the problem of insufficient land use.[citation needed] In February 2017, it was reported that the land, measuring 11,761 square metres (126,590 sq ft), had been sold by tender for a record price of HK$16.86 billion (US$2.17 billion) to a venture between KWG Property and Logan Property Holdings.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Islands portal

* Ap Lei Pai
* List of places in Hong Kong
* List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong
* Shek Pai Wan
* Magazine Island

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "District Profiles". 2021 Population Census.
2. ^ Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: Hong Kong geographic data sheet
3. ^ "History and Society/People & Places/Crowded Island - Most densely populated island". www.guinnessworldrecords.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
4. ^ Kuo Fei, Yueh ta-chi, attached Guangdong Coastal Map (《粵大記》海防卷「廣東沿海圖」)
5. ^ MacDonald, A. (1881). "Hong-Kong" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. XII (9th ed.). pp. 141–142.141-142&rft.edition=9th&rft.date=1881&rft.aulast=MacDonald&rft.aufirst=A.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ap+Lei+Chau" class="Z3988">
6. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hong-Kong" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 657–659.657-659&rft.edition=11th&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=1911&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ap+Lei+Chau" class="Z3988">
7. ^ Island Superlatives
8. ^ Ap Lei Chau Formation Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ Chinese Temples Committee website - Hung Shing Temple, Ap Lei Chau Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ Chinese Temples Committee website - Shui Yuet Temple, Ap Lei Chau Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ "POA School Net 18" (PDF). Education Bureau. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
12. ^ Sito, Peggy; Zhen, Summer; Ng, Naomi (24 February 2017). "Chinese builders pay record HK$16.86 billion for Ap Lei Chau site". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 4 May 2021.

## See also

[edit]

* List of islands by population density

## Further reading

[edit]

* Hayes, James (1971). "Rope-making and Dyeing/Calendering on Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong" (PDF). Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. 11\. Hong Kong. pp. 199–200. Retrieved 15 September 2014.199-200&rft.date=1971&rft.aulast=Hayes&rft.aufirst=James&rft_id=http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/a1fc9cc97e6c940bed10ee67d6e5c934.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ap+Lei+Chau" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ap Lei Chau.

* History and Memories of Ap Lei Chau

* v
* t
* e

Southern District, Hong Kong

Main borders and locations

Areas|

* Aberdeen
* Cape D'Aguilar
* Nam Long Shan
* Pok Fu Lam
* Repulse Bay
* Sandy Bay
* Shek O
* Stanley
* Tai Tam
* Wong Chuk Hang
* Wong Chuk Hang San Wai

Education|

* Canadian International School of Hong Kong
* Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired
* German Swiss International School Pok Fu Lam Campus
* Hong Kong International School
* Hong Kong True Light College
* Kellett School Pok Fu Lam Campus
* Sacred Heart Canossian College
* Singapore International School
* St Stephen's College
* South Island School
* West Island School

Landmarks|

* Aberdeen Country Park
* Béthanie
* Central Ordnance Munitions Depot
* Cyberport
* Le Méridien Cyberport Hotel
* D'Aguilar Peak
* The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay
* Grantham Hospital
* Holy Spirit Seminary
* Hong Kong Parkview
* Kwun Yam Shrine
* Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union Pok Fu Lam Road Cemetery
* Middle Bay
* Murray House
* Ocean Park Hong Kong
* Queen Mary Hospital
* Pok Fu Lam Country Park
* The Pulse
* The Repulse Bay
* Shek O Country Park
* Dragon's Back
* Shek O Peak
* Shouson Hill
* South Horizons
* Stanley Military Cemetery
* Stanley Prison
* Tai Tam Country Park

| Moved|

* Hong Kong Maritime Museum

|

Beaches|

* Big Wave Bay Beach
* Chung Hom Kok Beach
* Deep Water Bay Beach
* Hairpin Beach
* Middle Bay Beach
* Repulse Bay Beach
* Rocky Bay Beach
* Shek O Beach
* South Bay Beach
* St. Stephen's Beach
* Stanley Main Beach
* Turtle Cove Beach

Closed|

* Wong Chuk Hang Estate

|

Transport|

| MTR stations|

* Ocean Park
* Wong Chuk Hang
* Lei Tung
* South Horizons

|

Islands|

* Ap Lei Chau (Aberdeen Island)
* Ap Lei Pai
* Kau Pei Chau
* Magazine Island
* Middle Island (Tong Po Chau)
* Tai Tau Chau

Culture|

* Pok Fu Lam Fire Dragon Dance

This list is incomplete.
Hong Kong Maritime Museum is now located in Central.

* v
* t
* e

Major islands of Hong Kong

By area|

* Lantau Island
* Hong Kong Island
* Lamma Island
* Chek Lap Kok
* Tsing Yi
* Kau Sai Chau
* Leung Shuen Wan
* Po Toi Islands
* Po Toi
* Waglan
* Cheung Chau
* Tung Lung Chau
* Crooked Island
* Double Island
* Hei Ling Chau
* Ap Lei Chau
* Soko Islands
* Tai A Chau
* Siu A Chau
* Ping Chau
* Peng Chau
* Ma Wan
* Ninepin Group
* Tap Mun
* The Brothers
* Green Island
* Centre Island, Hong Kong
* Kowloon Rock

Former islands|

* Kellett Island
* Stonecutters Island
* Hoi Sham Island
* Channel Rock
* Pillar Island
* Mong Chau
* Chau Tsai
* Nga Ying Chau
* Lam Chau
* Rumsey Rock
* High Island
* Yuen Chau Tsai

* v
* t
* e

Urban areas of Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories

MHong Kong1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16|

| Central and Western District2|

* Sai Wan (Kennedy Town13, Shek Tong Tsui13 and Sai Ying Pun13)
* The Peak13
* Mid-Levels13
* Sheung Wan13
* Central13 (Admiralty)

|

Wan Chai District2|

* Wan Chai13
* Causeway Bay13 (Tin Hau13)
* Tai Hang
* So Kon Po
* Jardine's Lookout
* Happy Valley13

Eastern District2|

* North Point13
* Braemar Hill13
* Quarry Bay13
* Sai Wan Ho13
* Shau Kei Wan13
* Aldrich Bay
* Chai Wan
* Siu Sai Wan

Southern District|

* Pok Fu Lam13
* Waterfall Bay (Wah Fu)
* Aberdeen13(Tin Wan13 and Shek Pai Wan13)
* Ap Lei Chau
* Wong Chuk Hang
* Shouson Hill
* Deep Water Bay
* Repulse Bay
* Chung Hom Kok
* Stanley13
* Tai Tam
* Shek O13
* Cape D'Aguilar

MKowloonKL,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16|

| Yau Tsim Mong District|

* Tai Kok Tsui13
* Mong Kok (Prince Edward)
* Yau Ma Tei (Jordan)
* King's Park
* Tsim Sha Tsui13 (Jordan)
* West Kowloon

|

Sham Shui Po District|

* Stonecutters Island

Kowloon City district|

* Ma Tau Wai
* Ma Tau Kok
* To Kwa Wan
* Ho Man Tin
* Hung Hom13

MNew KowloonNKL,2,3,4,5,6,7,9a,10,11,12,14,15,16|

| Sham Shui Po District8|

* Lai Chi Kok
* Cheung Sha Wan
* Sham Shui Po
* So Uk
* West Kowloon
* Shek Kip Mei
* Tai Wo Ping
* Yau Yat Tsuen

|

Kowloon City district8|

* Kowloon City
* Kowloon Tong (Beacon Hill)
* Kai Tak

Wong Tai Sin District8|

* Wong Tai Sin
* Wang Tau Hom (Lok Fu)
* Tsz Wan Shan
* Diamond Hill
* San Po Kong
* Ngau Chi Wan
* Hammer Hill

Kwun Tong District|

* Kwun Tong8
* Ngau Tau Kok8
* Kowloon Bay8
* Jordan Valley8
* Sau Mau Ping8 (Except Shun Lee Estate)
* Lam Tin8
* Cha Kwo Ling8
* Yau Tong8

New Territories|

| MKwai Tsing District6,7,9b,10,11,14|

* Kwai Chung (Sheung Kwai Chung and Ha Kwai Chung)8
* Tsing Yi8 (Except Tsing Yi Station)
* Stonecutters Island8

|

MTsuen Wan District6,7,9b,10,11,14
(Except Tsing Chau Tsai Peninsula
on Lantau Island)|

* Tsuen Wan8 (Except Chuen Lung North and Tsuen Wan Station)
* Chai Wan Kok8
* Yau Kom Tau8
* Ting Kau8 (Except west of Ting Kau Interchange)
* Sham Tseng
* Tsing Lung Tau
* Ma Wan8
* Lei Muk Shue8

Sha Tin District9b,10|

* Sha Tin8
* Tai Wai8
* Shatin Heights8
* Yuen Chau Kok8 (Except Prince of Wales Hospital)
* Shek Mun8
* Siu Lek Yuen8
* Fo Tan8 (Except Sha Tin Racecourse)
* Kau To Shan8 (Except Lai Ping Road)
* Ma Liu Shui
* A Kung Kok8
* Ma On Shan
* Wu Kai Sha

Sai Kung District15|

* Tseung Kwan O New Town9b,11,12
* Ma Yau Tong8,16
* Po Lam8
* Tsui Lam8
* Hang Hau8 (Except Hang Hau Station and A&E of Tseung Kwan O Hospital)
* Tseung Kwan O8
* Tiu Keng Leng8
* Pak Shing Kok8 (Except Wan Po Road)
* Siu Chik Sha8 (Except Wan Po Road and Shek Kok Road)
* Tai Chik Sha8
* Fei Ngo Shan8,16
* Tai Sheung Tok8,9a

Islands District11,14,15
(Tsing Chau Tsai Peninsula
of Tsuen Wan District included)|

* Tung Chung New Town9b

Official place names are summarized from "Geoinfo Map" of Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, "Hong Kong Guide" of Lands Department, "Hong Kong Guide Book" of Universal Publications Ltd. and "Areas and Districts" of Rating and Valuation Department.
M：Narrow meaning of urban areas
KL: Kowloon Peninsula at the south of Boundary Street
NKL: Former New Territories area at the north of Boundary Street and at the south of Lion Rock
1: Common definition (1)
2: Common definition (2)
3: Common definition (3)
4: Areas not adopting small house concessionary right of indigenous inhabitants
5: Jurisdiction area of former Urban Council
6: Definition of "Metropolitan Area" of Planning Department
7: Jurisdiction area of Urban Renewal Authority
8: Unique operating area of urban taxis
9: "Urban" (9a) and "Extended Urban" (9b) areas defined by Hong Kong Housing Authority
10: Definition of Urban rates
11: Hospital cluster belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon
12: Police region belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon
13: Regions having 999-year land lease
14: Geographical Constituency in Hong Kong Legislative Council belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon
15: Regional Education Office belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon
16: Primary One Admission School Net belongs to Hong Kong or Kowloon
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