Kat O

Administratively, Kat O is part of North District. It is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy.{{cite web |url=https://www.landsd.gov.hk/doc/en/small-house/rv0909.pdf |title=List of Recognized Villages under the New Territories Small House Policy |last= |first= |date=September 2009 |website= |publisher=Lands Department |access-date= |quote=}}

File:Tin Hau Temple Kat O.jpg on Kat O]]

File:Wong Kok Teng.jpg

Kat O is located in the west of Mirs Bay.Hong Kong Geopark: [http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s2b2i.htm Kat O Nature Trail] With an area of 2.35 km²,Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: [http://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/hk_geographic_data_sheet.pdf Hong Kong geographic data sheet] it is the largest island in North District, the second largest being Wong Wan Chau (Double Island).{{Cite web |url=http://ebook.lib.hku.hk/HKG/B35840158.pdf |title=K.W. Lai, S.D.G. Campbell & R. Shaw, Geology of the Northeastern New Territories, p. 15, Civil Engineering Dept, Geotechnical Engineering Office, December 1996 |access-date=2011-07-12 |archive-date=2012-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312095428/http://ebook.lib.hku.hk/HKG/B35840158.pdf |url-status=dead }} Neighbouring islands include Ap Chau, Ngo Mei Chau (Crescent Island), and Pak Sha Chau (Round Island). The village of Tung O ({{zh|t=東澳|labels=no}}) is located on its northwest coast. Its highest point is Kai Kung Leng ({{zh|t=雞公嶺|labels=no}}), which is 122 m above sea level.

O Pui Tong ({{zh|t=澳背塘|labels=no}}) is a bay surrounded by the crook-shaped Crooked Island and Yeung Chau.{{cite web |url=http://www.waterman.hku.hk/fisheries/public/fcz.aspx?code=OPT |title=O Pui Tong Fish Culture Zone |last= |first= |date= |website=Project WATERMAN|publisher=The University of Hong Kong |access-date= |quote=}} O Pui Tong, together with the northwestern waters of Kat O, are two of the 26 designated marine fish culture zones in Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mpo/fish_aqu_mpo.html|title=Marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture |date=12 August 2019|access-date=16 December 2019|department=Fisheries Branch|publisher=Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department}}

Kat O was once a major fishing market in Hong Kong,Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building Appraisal. [https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/common/historicbuilding/en/974_Appraisal_En.pdf Tin Hau Temple, Sai O, Kat O] and long served as an important stopover for boats travelling between Hong Kong and the rest of China.[https://hongkongfp.com/2020/09/06/hkfp-venture-kat-o-hong-kongs-forgotten-island-once-its-international-gateway/ HKFP Venture: Kat O, Hong Kong’s forgotten island – once its international gateway], HKFP, by Rhoda Kwan. 6 Sept 2020

During the Ming dynasty, a decree required all inhabitants to leave the island. Then in the 1660s, soon after the end of the dynasty, it was re-settled by Hakka people. Other residents were Tanka fishermen.

The Tin Hau Temple at Kat O is estimated to be built in 1763.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gohk.gov.hk/text/eng/welcome/north_spots.html |title=Welcome to 18 Districts - North District |access-date=2013-11-23 |archive-date=2013-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203082146/http://www.gohk.gov.hk/text/eng/welcome/north_spots.html |url-status=dead }} It is listed as a Grade III historic building.Antiquities Advisory Board. [https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/en/content_29/AAB-SM-chi.pdf List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings with Assessment Results] Part of the temple building was used for the Tat O School until the school was moved to a new location in 1957. A Pak Kung Shrine is also located in the vicinity.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hktrampers.com/FactFile/CrookedIsland/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085922/http://www.hktrampers.com/FactFile/CrookedIsland/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-04|title=Crooked Island|date=2016-03-04|access-date=2019-05-10}}

The island is home to three cannons. These are thought to have been made in the west, during the 19th century.

Kat O has been part of the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park since 1979.[http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_pc/cou_vis_cou_pc.html Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: Plover Cove Country Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929084031/http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_pc/cou_vis_cou_pc.html |date=2013-09-29 }}

The Kat O Nature Trail is 1 km long, stretching from the Kat O Ferry Pier to Ko Tei Teng ({{zh|t=高地頂|labels=no}}).

The Kat O Geoheritage Centre (at No. 142 Kat O Main Street) was opened in 2010Time Out Hong Kong: [http://www.timeout.com.hk/around-town/features/66009/secret-hong-kong-islands.html "Secret Hong Kong islands"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905010706/http://www.timeout.com.hk/around-town/features/66009/secret-hong-kong-islands.html |date=2014-09-05 }}, 29 Apr 2014 by Kat O villagers, volunteer groups and the government to raise public awareness of geo-conservation, as part of the Hong Kong Geopark.Hong Kong Geopark: [http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s2f3.htm Kat O Geoheritage Centre]

{{portal|Islands}}

• Crooked Harbour
• Double Haven
• Pat Sin Leng Country Park

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|last=Choi |first=C.C.|author-link1=|year=1990|title=Studies on Hong Kong Jiao Festivals |journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch|volume=30|pages=26-43 |publisher=|url=https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/6961e3917fbbd2702e62721f4604d7d8.pdf |issn=1991-7295|accessdate=}}

{{commons category|Crooked Island, Hong Kong}}

• [https://www.had.gov.hk/rre/images/village_map1922/N/n-stk-37.pdf Delineation of area of existing village Kat O (Sha Tau Kok) for election of resident representative (2019 to 2022)]
• [http://www.kut-o.com/ Kut-O Chinese Association (Kent area) Website]
• Pictures of Kat O: [http://www.kut-o.com/archive.htm], [http://thaiworldview.com/hongkong/outerisland/kat%20o.htm]
• Hong Kong Geopark: [http://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s3fk.htm "Lee Yuk Ying Introduces the Cultural History of Kat O to Visitors"].
• [http://www.hktrampers.com/FactFile/CrookedIsland/ Webpage about Kat O] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085922/http://www.hktrampers.com/FactFile/CrookedIsland/ |date=2016-03-04 }}
• Antiquities Advisory Board. [https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/common/historicbuilding/photo/974_Photo.pdf Pictures of Tin Hau Temple, Sai O, Kat O]
• [https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ap-chau-kat-o-hong-kong-cmd/index.html How to visit two of Hong Kong's most remote islands in one day] CNN.com

{{North District, Hong Kong}}

{{Islands of Hong Kong}}

{{Coord|22|32|28|N|114|17|43.9|E|display=title|type:isle}}

Category:Islands of Hong Kong

Category:North District, Hong Kong

Category:Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark

Category:Populated places in Hong Kong