Not to be confused with Middle Island, Hong Kong

Middle Island, Hong Kong

Middle Island is an island of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of Southern District.-Geography:Middle Island is located 100 m off the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, between Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay.-Features:...

.

Centre Island aka. A Chau (丫洲) is a small unihabited island of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 located in Tolo Harbour

Tolo Harbour

Tolo Harbour , or Tai Po Hoi is a sheltered harbour in northeast New Territories of Hong Kong.-Geography:Tide Cove aka...

, in the northwestern part of the territory. Administratively, it is part of Tai Po District

Tai Po District

Tai Po District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It covers the areas of Tai Po, Tai Po Kau, Ting Kok, Plover Cove and the northern part of Sai Kung Peninsula on both shores of Tolo Channel. It is located in the New Territories...

.

History

A mid-Neolithic

Neolithic

The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...

 prehistoric site dating back to about 6,000 years ago has been identified on Centre Island during a survey conducted in 1997-1998. Prehistoric sites have been discovered on two other islands of Tolo Harbour, namely Yuen Chau Tsai

Yuen Chau Tsai

Yuen Chau Tsai was formerly an island of Tolo Harbour, in Hong Kong. After land reclamation, it is now connected to land by a causeway and is part of Tai Po District.The Tai Wong Yeh Temple and Island House are located in the area of the former island....

 (3,000 years, Bronze Age

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...

) and Yim Tin Tsai

Yim Tin Tsai (Tai Po)

Yim Tin Tsai is an island of Hong Kong located in Tolo Harbour.-Geography:Yim Tin Tsai is located in Tolo Harbour and forms part of the southern border of Plover Cove. It is connected to the mainland in the north by a road, leading next to The Beverly Hills, and to the island of Ma Shi Chau in the...

 (4,000 years, late Neolithic).

Conservation

Centre Island was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Site of Special Scientific Interest (Hong Kong)

Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a special area to protect wildlife, habitats and geographic features based on scientic interest in Hong Kong. Scientic interests are special features relating to animal life, plant life, geology and/or geography...

 in 1982. The designation is based on the geological interest of the island.

Centre Island is part of the Ma Shi Chau Special Area

Ma Shi Chau Special Area

Ma Shi Chau Special Area is a Special Area of Hong Kong. It is located in Tai Po District and in Tolo Harbour, in the northeast of the New Territories....

, together with three other islands in Tolo Harbour, namely Ma Shi Chau

Ma Shi Chau

Ma Shi Chau is an island of Hong Kong, under the administration of Tai Po District. It is located in Tolo Harbour in the northeast New Territories . It is connected with another island, Yim Tin Tsai, by a narrow strip of land that is only accessible when the tide is low.-Geography:Ma Shi Chau has...

, Yeung Chau

Yeung Chau, Tai Po

Yeung Chau is an unihabited island of Hong Kong located in Plover Cove, Tolo Harbour, in the northwestern part of the territory. Administratively, it is part of Tai Po District....

 and an unnamed island located about 100 m northeast of the shore of Yim
Tin Tsai

Yim Tin Tsai (Tai Po)

Yim Tin Tsai is an island of Hong Kong located in Tolo Harbour.-Geography:Yim Tin Tsai is located in Tolo Harbour and forms part of the southern border of Plover Cove. It is connected to the mainland in the north by a road, leading next to The Beverly Hills, and to the island of Ma Shi Chau in the...

near Sam Mun Tsai New Village. The Special Area was designated in 1999.