It is the site of a Buddhist Hall Fort constructed 300 years ago, and recently refurbished. A prehistoric stone carving can also be found on the island. Both the fort and the stone carving are declared monuments of Hong Kong.
Buddhist Hall Fort
It is said the fort was built as a part of a maritime defence system to protect trade and fend off pirates. The fort, according to one record, was erected in the Kangxi era (1662-1722) to guard against pirates. It is rumoured to have been attacked by the famous pirates Cheng Lien Chang and Cheng I, and more recently by the infamous Cheung Po Tsai. The fort was abandoned in 1810 when its personnel moved to another fort at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula.
The fort is situated at the north-eastern part of the island, 35 m above the water with cliffs on three sides, and commands the Fat Tong Mun channel. No vessel could pass through without being seen entering or leaving Joss House Bay. The fort may also have been a signal station, passing messages on to military headquarters in Kowloon. When in use it was manned by an average of 25 men of the Tai-pang-hsi navy.
Although no sketches or historic descriptions of the fort are available, observation of the ruins has given an idea of the structure. It was rectangular, composed of 10 feet high rubble stone walls provided with an arch-shaped brick gate for the guards to pass in and out.
Transportation
On weekends, small craft fly the gap between the island and Sai Wan Ho.
Part of the text based on information provided by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), under the provision that the re-dissemination or reproduction is for non-commercial use. [1] (http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/news/copyright_notice.htm)
Subsequently, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 under the Treaty of Nanking, at which point in time the territory became a Crown Colony.
Tung Chee Hwa, elected in December by a selection committee which members are appointed by the PRC government, assumed duty as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
Tung's position has been filled, after a by-election with only one qualifed candidate, by the No. 2 ranking official, the Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, a popular bow tie-wearing career civil servant who was educated at Harvard and received a knighthood for his service during British colonial rule.
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