Sai Wan, Sai Kung
Encyclopedia
Sai Wan is a beach in Sai Kung, Hong Kong
. To distinguish it from other bays and beaches of the same name
, it is commonly known as Tai Long Sai Wan, as it is one of the four beaches of Tai Long Wan
. It came first in the Hong Kong Best 10 Scenic Sites Election in 2006. However, in 2010 the beach is said to be in jeopardy after a nearby plot of greenery was cleared to make way for development.
for fishing boats but the High Island Reservoir
project blocked the shortcut channel.
. It is next to Ham Tin Village, which has a restaurant that rents out camping equipment and surf boards apart from serving dishes.
It is characterized by white sand and clear blue waters, which is attributable to its relative inaccessibility. It is quiet and untainted, usually visited by junk-trippers and hikers only.
It has been described as one the best scenic spots in Sai Kung East or even Hong Kong. It came first in the Hong Kong Best 10 Scenic Sites Election in 2006. Therefore, the bay is also known as "Hong Kong’s back garden".
. It is not recommended for swimming.
Hong Kong Underwater Archaeological Association vice chairman and diving instructor Johny Lee said it was a wide beach with a narrow opening to the open sea, causing strong currents especially during September. He remarked that it was good for diving as the water was clear and one could observe the marine life of the area. However, he also noted that the strong current made it dangerous and people should be very careful if they decide to swim there.
A number of drownings have happened in the bay.
and Vision Values Holdings, has acquired several plots of an abandoned village for a total of about HK$16 million to form the site that falls just outside the Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas and is not covered by any Outline Zoning Plans.
The concerned strip of land, around 10,000 square metres in size, has been cleared of vegetation by diggers. A warning sign is put up on the excavation site to warn against trespassing.
The nature of the private development is unclear. Villagers claimed that a private lodge will be built with artificial ponds, a tennis court and separate apartment. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Vision Values Holdings said that there were no plans for any large-scale works, and that because the owner was very green himself, the land would be developed in a low-profile way. Lo also claimed he would be building an organic garden with pools for public use on the site.
As of 23 July 2010, more than 68,000 people have joined the Facebook group that opposes the private development. Green groups are planning a protest hike, tentatively set for 25 July 2010. A leading conservationist has said that the incident will give a bad impression to the United Nations, which will be asked to grant World Heritage status to the Sai Kung Country Park.
Many were also infuriated with the government for not doing more to stop the destruction. After the reporting of the incident by the media on 16 July 2010, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah was inquired about the incident on the next day but said he knew nothing about it. Yau visited the site on 20 July 2010 and said the government had to strike a balance between respecting private land and protecting the environment. Diggers have been mostly working on private land but a small section of the site is over government land. Yau warned the land owner that any redevelopment on agricultural land requires approval from the Lands Office, otherwise no construction work should proceed. The government has promised to meet with the landowner to work out a plan that will satisfy all parties concerned.
Peter Li, campaign manager at the Conservancy Association, expressed disappointment with Yau's remarks, saying the government failed to make any concrete promises to address the issue. Designing Hong Kong convener Paul Zimmerman called on the government to restrict development even on private land near country parks: "They must now put up land control and planning control on those sites so they can no longer be destroyed." Other environmentalists urged that part or all of private land within country parks be repossessed to avoid further damage to the natural landscape.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government will not repossess private land whenever there is a public outcry. Conservation may be achieved through many other ways, she said.
Sai Wan is also not the only scenic spot at risk: South China Morning Post
reported that about 20 sites within or close to two country parks in Sai Kung are vulnerable to the same type of development.
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...
. To distinguish it from other bays and beaches of the same name
Sai Wan (bays)
Sai Wan is the name of:Sai Wan is also the former name of Chai Wan*Sai Wan War Cemetery* Sai Wan, Western District-Bays:*Sai Wan, Cheung Chau*Sai Wan, Ma Wan*Sai Wan, Sai Kung*Sai Wan, Tai A Chau*Fan Lau Sai Wan*Kau Sai Wan-See also:...
, it is commonly known as Tai Long Sai Wan, as it is one of the four beaches of Tai Long Wan
Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung
Tai Long Wan is a bay on the east coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong.There are four beaches along the bay: Sai Wan , also called Tai Long Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan , Tai Wan and Tung Wan .Tai Long Wan is considered one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong...
. It came first in the Hong Kong Best 10 Scenic Sites Election in 2006. However, in 2010 the beach is said to be in jeopardy after a nearby plot of greenery was cleared to make way for development.
History
Sai Wan used to be a typhoon shelterTyphoon shelter
A typhoon shelter is a shelter for fishing boats during typhoons. These facilities are often found in Hong Kong.-Structure:In its usual form, a typhoon shelter is usually in the form of a bay or a cove, with a narrow opening for access, as most of the opening to the seas are blocked by a man-made...
for fishing boats but the High Island Reservoir
High Island Reservoir
The High Island Reservoir , located in the far south eastern part of the Sai Kung Peninsula, was opened in 1978 helping to alleviate water shortage problems in Hong Kong. Its water capacity is approximately 273 million cubic metres...
project blocked the shortcut channel.
Scenery
Sai Wan is situated in Sai Kung East Country Park at Stage 2 of the MacLehose TrailMacLehose Trail
The MacLehose Trail , opened on 26 October 1979, is a hiking trail that crosses much of the New Territories, starting from Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung, in the east to Tuen Mun in the west in the territory of Hong Kong. The whole trail is 100 kilometres long, marked by distance posts at 500m intervals...
. It is next to Ham Tin Village, which has a restaurant that rents out camping equipment and surf boards apart from serving dishes.
It is characterized by white sand and clear blue waters, which is attributable to its relative inaccessibility. It is quiet and untainted, usually visited by junk-trippers and hikers only.
It has been described as one the best scenic spots in Sai Kung East or even Hong Kong. It came first in the Hong Kong Best 10 Scenic Sites Election in 2006. Therefore, the bay is also known as "Hong Kong’s back garden".
Accidents
Tai Long Wan translates to "Big Wave Bay" in Cantonese, which indicates its strong currents. It is also not a gazetted public beach, which means it has no lifeguard and is not managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services DepartmentLeisure and Cultural Services Department
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department , often abbreviated as LCSD, is a department in the Government of Hong Kong. It reports to the Home Affairs Bureau, headed by the Secretary for Home Affairs. It provides leisure and cultural activities for the people of Hong Kong, which was also one of...
. It is not recommended for swimming.
Hong Kong Underwater Archaeological Association vice chairman and diving instructor Johny Lee said it was a wide beach with a narrow opening to the open sea, causing strong currents especially during September. He remarked that it was good for diving as the water was clear and one could observe the marine life of the area. However, he also noted that the strong current made it dangerous and people should be very careful if they decide to swim there.
A number of drownings have happened in the bay.
Controversy
On 16 July 2010, it was reported that a large private development is under way in a site directly behind Sai Wan. It was revealed that businessman Simon Lo Lin-shing, chairman of Mongolia Energy CorporationMongolia Energy Corporation
Mongolia Energy Corporation Limited is a mining and energy develing holding company operating in Mongolia and Xinjiang in northwestern China. It was incorporated in Bermuda and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
and Vision Values Holdings, has acquired several plots of an abandoned village for a total of about HK$16 million to form the site that falls just outside the Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas and is not covered by any Outline Zoning Plans.
The concerned strip of land, around 10,000 square metres in size, has been cleared of vegetation by diggers. A warning sign is put up on the excavation site to warn against trespassing.
The nature of the private development is unclear. Villagers claimed that a private lodge will be built with artificial ponds, a tennis court and separate apartment. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Vision Values Holdings said that there were no plans for any large-scale works, and that because the owner was very green himself, the land would be developed in a low-profile way. Lo also claimed he would be building an organic garden with pools for public use on the site.
As of 23 July 2010, more than 68,000 people have joined the Facebook group that opposes the private development. Green groups are planning a protest hike, tentatively set for 25 July 2010. A leading conservationist has said that the incident will give a bad impression to the United Nations, which will be asked to grant World Heritage status to the Sai Kung Country Park.
Many were also infuriated with the government for not doing more to stop the destruction. After the reporting of the incident by the media on 16 July 2010, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah was inquired about the incident on the next day but said he knew nothing about it. Yau visited the site on 20 July 2010 and said the government had to strike a balance between respecting private land and protecting the environment. Diggers have been mostly working on private land but a small section of the site is over government land. Yau warned the land owner that any redevelopment on agricultural land requires approval from the Lands Office, otherwise no construction work should proceed. The government has promised to meet with the landowner to work out a plan that will satisfy all parties concerned.
Peter Li, campaign manager at the Conservancy Association, expressed disappointment with Yau's remarks, saying the government failed to make any concrete promises to address the issue. Designing Hong Kong convener Paul Zimmerman called on the government to restrict development even on private land near country parks: "They must now put up land control and planning control on those sites so they can no longer be destroyed." Other environmentalists urged that part or all of private land within country parks be repossessed to avoid further damage to the natural landscape.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government will not repossess private land whenever there is a public outcry. Conservation may be achieved through many other ways, she said.
Sai Wan is also not the only scenic spot at risk: South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
reported that about 20 sites within or close to two country parks in Sai Kung are vulnerable to the same type of development.