A bridge away from Yim Tin Tsai, Kau Sai Chau, an almost uninhabited island of 6.5km2 now known for its public golf course, was also home to hundreds of fishermen and some Hakka people in a small village – Kau Sai Village. The tranquility offered by the abundance of bays and inner ports has made Kau Sai Chau an ideal and popular anchorage for fishermen.

The Forced Upon Artillery Threat
Housing a population size disproportionate to the area of the isle, in the 1950s, the government extended the boundaries of an army artillery range to the ports of Kau Sai. The danger that entails from artillery shells during military exercises threatens not only the income but also the lives of the inhabitants. There was one instance where the army almost blew the village school in Kau Sai off when one of the shells went out of range during practice. Helpless, the villagers soon welcomed Dr. Barbara Ward, whom they refer as “Miss Ward”, a British anthropologist who designated Kau Sai as her PhD field study site. During her 35-year stay, she developed close ties with the villagers and frequently wrote to the Government on behalf of the frustrated fishermen. Dr. Ward successfully persuaded the government to discard Kau Sai from the artillery range and provide adequate housing for fishermen.

Golf-Camouflaged Historical and Religious Footprint
The hype builds up in this uninhabited island during the Hung Shing Festival. According to old newspaper clippings, fishermen from as far as Cheung Chau, Aberdeen, Shau Kei Wan and Po Toi O all congregate at this isle to celebrate this highly anticipated annual spectacle. The Hung Shing Temple is the only religious institution on the island and was declared a monument in 2002. Inscriptions suggest that the temple has been standing at least before 1889. Yet, the historical trace does not merely end here. In the 1970s, a group of amateur archaeologists discovered rock carvings with geometric patterns and monster-looking graphics. Graphic references suggest that these carvings could be dated way back to the Bronze Age (approximately 3000 years ago). Despite its uninhabited nature as of today, Kau Sai offers a wealth of historical gems and stories that is now camouflaged by its reputation as a golfing island.