The Story of High Island - Activating Local Records

Thanks to the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust for their steadfast support, it has been possible to conduct extensive research on the history and culture of High Island (Leung Shuen Wan), Sai Kung which has been duly recorded.

A stone anchor stock was discovered during the underwater archaeological investigation in Sai Kung waters in 2016. It is believed to have once belonged to a Song dynasty merchant vessel passing through Hong Kong. The shape of the anchor stock is similar to those that have been found in Hakata Bayin in Japan, Quanzhou in Fujian and the Nanhai No. 1 shipwreck in Guangdong. The size of the anchor stock is considerably smaller than the comparative examples listed. It was initially deduced to have belonged to a foreign trading vessel. This significant discovery has provided very important data for further investigation of Song dynasty era maritime trade in Hong Kong.

An anchor is a heavy object that was used to moor a ship to the sea bottom. The horizontal anchor stock found in High Island is a component made of stone for either wooden or stone anchors.

In the early 1970s, remains of an ancient shipwreck were found in Sha Tsui, Sai Kung. Other artefacts like pottery shards were also discovered during the underwater archaeological excavation.

During the 2016 underwater archaeological excavation, two British eighteenth to nineteenth-century iron cannon were found in the Basalt Island at the Southern tip of High Island. The discovery suggests that merchant vessels may have used them for protection in the pirate-invested waters of Sai Kung.

Other artefacts like ceramic shards were also found in Town Island during the 2016 underwater archaeological excavation.

The villagers in High Island generally worship the sea goddess Mazu, giving rise to the construction of Mazu Temple (Tin Hau Temple). Tin Hau's Water Parade, a biennial celebration, is the only water parade celebration of Tin Hau along he Guangdong coast.

Statue of Tin Hau wearing a head decoration with five strings filled with beads hanging down her face

A red tablet of a pair made in a convex form with stands. The two are the boat people's ancestral image of the Elderly Man and Elderly Lady, who died at an age of over fifty. They are often portrayed sitting on thrones and dressed in a robe of a wealthy couple.

In 1864, Fr. Simeon Volonteri of Pontificium Institution pro Missionibus Exteris P.I.M.E., Milan, Italy arrived in Sai Kung Town, where he was warmly received by the local people and offered a piece of land near the Tin Hau Temple to build a small chapel, a school and quarters. In 1910, a Catholic church was built at Lung Shuen Wan which is now dilapidated. The new church at Pak A village was opened in 1956. Although it is now in poor condition, its sturcture and architectural style can still be seen.

Until the 1950s, due to historical reasons, boat dwellers (Tanka people) rarely had the opportunity to receive an education. Inhabitants on the island, who were mainly Haka people, had access to a traditional private school in 1925, while the Tin Hau Temple of Tung A village and the Catholic church of Pak A village also offered lessons. In 1947, a licence was issued and the name of "Leung Shuen Bay School" was confirmed. Fron them on, both Haka and Tanka people enjoyed equal right to education.

In the recent decade, new opportunities in High Island have come about through the publicity of Tin Hau festivities, and the promotion of cultural conservation as well as the development of eco-tourism. In 2017, the government initiated the "Pier Improvement Programme" which included the pier at High Island and plans to convert Hakka village houses into a youth hostel and to build a peace park to promote eco-tourism.

The plaques were towed out to the sea by a fishing boat to attract shoals of fish.

High Island is uniquely formed by basalt. Around 140 million years ago, the eastern part of China experienced a period of volcanic activity. During that period, several large volcanoes were found in Hong Kong, one of which was located in what has become present day-Sai Kung. When the modern lava layer cooled down, hexagonal pillars were found and these were distributed in High Island, forming an impressive landscape.