In this another addition to Getting to know the neighborhood series, here’s an introduction to the New Territories and Outlying Islands.
The New Territories include the area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon Peninsula and south of the Sham Chun River, on the border of mainland China. It is about 740 square kilometers and mostly rural, but it is growing rapidly. The Outlying Islands encompasses 260 islands, with Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, and Peng Chau the most well known.
The New Territories were leased to the United Kingdom in 1898 for 99 years along with Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula in the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory or the Second Convention of Peking.
The New Territories contain the majority of Hong Kong’s population: about five million people. Upon arriving to Hong Kong, chances are you will first come to Lantau Island, as it where the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is located. Lantou is also the largest island in Hong Kong, encompassing 146 square kilometers. The island is named after its tallest peak, “Lantou”, meaning “ragged head”. The peak, 934 meters high, is the tallest point of the island, second highest in Hong Kong after Tai Mo Shan, and is almost twice the height of Victoria Peak in Central District. Lantau Island is affectionately referred to as “the lungs of Hong Kong” due to its indigenous forest and shortage of high-rise residential developments, very unlike Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. In fact, more than 50% of the island is national parks.
One huge residential development that the island can claim is Discovery Bay a private residential area open since 1980. It lies on the northwest side of the island. Originally thought of as an upscale resort in 1976, it evolved into a “self contained” community with 16,000 residents and education, recreation, and commercial facilities, including a marina and golf course.
Even though the island is not as developed as the other main areas, it has gone through a great transformation with the introduction of HKIA, Ngong Ping 360 and Hong Kong Disneyland. Ngong Ping 360 is a cable car ride linking Tung Chung (a connection on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR)) and Ngong Ping. In Ngong Ping, you will find the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha, the latter has the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue. Hong Kong Disneyland, open since 2005, is on the northeast about two kilometers from Discovery Bay. Like Wan Chai in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui East in Kowloon, it too is a built on reclaimed land, but from Penny’s Bay
Lamma Island, southwest of Hong Kong Island is 13.6 square kilometer with a population of about 6,000. It is one of the most peaceful and scenic islands in the territory. There are no buildings over three stores and no automobiles save fire trucks, ambulances and open-back vehicles carrying construction materials. With that said, one gets around either on foot or via a bicycle. Despite these attributes, Lamma has an ever present expatriate community as well younger people, artists, cartoonists and musicians. A ferry service connects Lamma with Hong Kong Island (approximately 20-35 minutes) and Aberdeen
Cheung Chau, Cantonese for “Long Island,” is about 10 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong Island with a population of about 30,000 and only 2.5 square kilometers. Traditionally a fishing village, it has developed into a tourist attraction with beaches, cafes, and glimpses of traditional Chinese culture. The central part of is island has also modernized with shops and houses. One of the oldest temples can be found in Cheng Chau. Pak Tai Temple, was built in 1783 and repainted in 1989.
Peng Chau, of the northeast coast of Lantau Island covers about 0.98 square miles. Like Lamma Island, the only automobiles allowed on the island are fire trucks, ambulances and construction vehicles. The island is accessible by ferry from Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, and Cheung Chau.
Check out the following sites for more detail into the New Territories and Outlying Islands.
New Territories
Lantau Island
Lamma Island
Peng Chau
Cheung Chau
Ngong Ping 360
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