Editing Lamma Island

{{Short description|Outlying island of Hong Kong}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox islands
| name               = Lamma Island
| local_name         = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-Hant-HK|南丫島}}}}
| image_name         = Aerial photo of Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Aerial view of [[Yung Shue Wan]], Lamma Island
| image_alt          = 
| map                = Hong Kong
| map_alt            = 
| map_width          = 
| map_caption        = 
| location           = Southwest of [[Hong Kong Island]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|22|12|N|114|07|E|type:isle_region:HK|display=title,inline}}
| area_km2           = 13.55
| length_km          = 7
| elevation_m        = 353
| highest_mount      = [[Mount Stenhouse]]{{nbsp}}({{lang|zh-hant-HK|山地塘}})
| country            = Hong Kong
| country_admin_divisions_title = Region
| country_admin_divisions = [[New Territories]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = District
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Islands District]]
| population         = ≈7,000<ref name=population/>
| density_km2        = 
| ethnic_groups      = {{plainlist|
* 55% Chinese
* 23% White 
* 11.4% Filipino }}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = 
| piccap = Map of Lamma Island at the ferry pier
| s = 南丫岛
| t = 南丫島
| p = Nán yā dǎo
| j = {{tone superscript|Naam4 aa1 dou2}}
| y = Nàahm ā dóu
| altname = Pok Liu Chau
| c2 = 博寮洲
| j2 = {{tone superscript|Bok3 liu4 zau1}}
| y2 = Bok lìuh jāu
| p2 = Bóliáozhōu
| altname3 = Pok Liu
| c3 = 博寮
| j3 = {{tone superscript|Bok3 liu4}}
| y3 = Bok lìuh
| p3 = Bóliáo
}}

'''Lamma Island''', also known as '''Y Island''', '''Pok Liu Chau''' or simply '''Pok Liu''', is the third largest [[List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong|island]] in [[Hong Kong]]. Administratively, it is part of the [[Islands District, Hong Kong|Islands District]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hon-kwan |first1=Yu |title=Islands District Council - Welcome Message |url=https://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/island/english/welcome/welcome.html |website=www.districtcouncils.gov.hk |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
Lamma Island is a rural area.

==Name==
The island was named Lamma because of a chart reading error by [[Alexander Dalrymple]] in the 1760s. He acquired a Portuguese chart of the entrance to the [[Pearl River (China)|Pearl River]]. Close to the west of the island, the Portuguese owner had written "Lama". Dalrymple misinterpreted that as the name of the island. However, it was a Portuguese note describing the consistency of the seabed for the sake of anchoring there. The Portuguese word "lama" refers to mud.
In early charts the name was spelled with only one "m". The island acquired a British name by error. The name was acculturated phonetically in characters, "Lam a" can mean "south fork" in Cantonese, with the original muddle being all but forgotten. At some point, things became further obscured by the addition of the second "m" in the English spelling.

In ancient times, Lamma used to be named as Pok Liu or Pok Liu Chau.<ref>Exploring Lamma – History and Geographical Conditions [http://www.hkkf.com.hk/index.php?op=show&page=travel_lamma_geog&style=en] Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry</ref>

==Geography==
Lamma Island is located to the southwest of [[Hong Kong Island]]. It is the third largest [[List of islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong|island of Hong Kong]], with an area of {{convert|13.55|km2|abbr=on}}<ref>Survey and Mapping Office, Lands Department: [http://www.landsd.gov.hk/mapping/en/publications/hk_geographic_data_sheet.pdf Hong Kong geographic data sheet]</ref> and a length of {{convert|7|km|mi}}. The northern village is called [[Yung Shue Wan]] ([[Banyan]] Tree Bay) and the eastern village is called [[Sok Kwu Wan]] ([[Rainbow]] Bay, literally Cable Fishing Net Bay). Few people live on the southern part of Lamma. Access for much of this part is by hiking or private boat. Beaches along Lamma's south-facing edge include Yung Shue Ha Beach and Sham Wan.

[[Mount Stenhouse]] ({{zh|t=山地塘|labels=no}}, Shan Tei Tong) is the tallest mountain in Lamma at {{convert|353|m|ft|abbr=off}} [[above sea level]], situated between Sok Kwu Wan and Sham Wan. Unusually shaped rocks can be found all over this mountain, but a grueling hike is necessary to access these.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:mtstenhouse.jpg|Example of a naturally formed rock found near the summit of Mt. Stenhouse.
File:Lamma Island Walk.jpg|Walking the trail between Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan
</gallery>

==History==
According to archaeological findings, human settlement on the northern and eastern part of Lamma Island can be traced back to around 4000–3000 BC,<ref>{{cite book |title= The Archaeology of Hong Kong|last= Meacham|first= William |year= 2008|publisher= [[Hong Kong University Press]] |isbn= 978-9622099258}}</ref> the [[Middle Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]]s. [[Yung Shue Ha]], one of Lamma's earliest villages, was settled in the early 19th century by a clan from China's [[Bao'an County]].

==Demographics==
[[File:Habourview Lamma Island Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|[[Yung Shue Wan]].]]
Lamma has an estimated population of 5,900 people as of 2014. However, with future developments such as a planned beach community in Sok Kwu Wan the population capacity is expected to double to 11,000 residents.<ref name=population>{{cite news |last= Wong|first= Olga|title= Population of Lamma Island will double under new housing plan|url= http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1447296/former-quarry-plan-would-double-population-lamma-island|newspaper= [[South China Morning Post]]|location= Hong Kong|access-date=13 March 2014}}</ref>

Actor [[Chow Yun-fat]] ({{zh|t=周潤發|labels=no}}) grew up on the island in the village of [[Wang Long (Lamma Island)|Wang Long]] near Yung Shue Wan. His relatives used to operate a seafood/pigeon restaurant called "Shau Kee" in the main village.<ref>{{cite news |last= Steinecke|first= Julia|date= 24 May 2008|title= Peaceful origins of actor Chow Yun-Fat|url= https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2008/05/24/peaceful_origins_of_actor_chow_yunfat.html|newspaper= [[Toronto Star]]|location= Hong Kong|access-date= 7 January 2016}}</ref>

Lamma has a significant Western and international population. As of 2021 , the island is 55% Chinese , ethnic minorities include white (23%) and Filipino (11.4%). 

The island has a reputation for alternative lifestyles and has a relaxed atmosphere. Lamma is being urbanised and property prices are increasing as a result of the attraction of this lifestyle. <ref>{{cite news |last= Gotterson|first= Annie |date= 9 November 2010|title= Lamma Island will be a hippie haven no more|url= http://travel.cnn.com/hong-kong/life/lamma-hippie-haven-no-more-598954|newspaper= [[CNN]] Travel|access-date= 14 April 2011}}</ref>

==Description==
In contrast to Hong Kong Island and [[Kowloon]], Lamma is peaceful and tranquil with an abundance of natural scenery. Buildings higher than three storeys are prohibited and there are no automobiles but diminutive fire trucks and ambulances, as well as [[village vehicle]]s; distinctive open-back vehicles to transport construction materials. The community's only means of transport is either by foot or bicycle.

Lamma provides an alternative to the hectic life in the city. Property and rents are cheap compared with those of central Hong Kong. These factors have attracted a significant [[expatriate]] community to Lamma Island. It is also popular with younger people and a haven for artists and musicians.

==Yung Shue Wan==
{{main | Yung Shue Wan}}
[[File:Lamma island chimneys.jpg|thumb|[[Hongkong Electric Company|Hongkong Electric]]'s [[Lamma Power Station]]]]

Yung Shue Wan (Banyan Bay) is the most populated area on Lamma Island. Several decades ago, it was the centre of the [[plastics industry]]. The factories have now been replaced by seafood restaurants, pubs, grocery stores and shops which sell [[oriental]] and Indian-style handicraft. [[Hung Shing Yeh Beach]], [[Lamma Power Station]], North Lamma Island Public Library and [[Lamma Winds]] are also located in the northern part of the island.

==Sok Kwu Wan==
{{main | Sok Kwu Wan}}
[[File:Sok Kwu Wan.jpg|thumb|Overlooking the fish farms and restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan]]

The big street of Sok Kwu Wan consists mainly of seafood restaurants. Sok Kwu Wan has the largest [[fish farming]] site in Hong Kong. Tourists can barbecue and fish at [[Lo So Shing Beach]] which is a ten-minute walk from the village. The trail between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan is surrounded by grassland and offers a picturesque walk. From there one can see a nice portion of the coastline of the island. It takes roughly an hour to walk the trail.

Walkers may notice a few 'caves' on the trail near Sok Kwu Wan, labelled on tourist signs as 'kamikaze grottos'. These caves were dug out by the Japanese [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong|during the war]], to store munitions alongside the suicide boats. When the [[British Navy]] reclaimed Hong Kong, they discovered rows of speedboats with explosives rigged to the bow in Sok Kwu Wan.<ref>Scenes in Hong Kong Following the Re-occupation of the Crown Colony after the Japanese Surrender. September 1945 [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205187664] Imperial War Museums</ref>

In addition to the caves, the Japanese also dug tunnels into the island's peaks, including two known tunnels on Ling Kok Shan<ref>Japanese Tunnel, Ling Kok Shan No. 2 [http://gwulo.com/node/3476] Gwulo</ref> and one on Mt. Stenhouse.<ref>Japanese Tunnel, Stenhouse [http://gwulo.com/node/3360] Lamma Gwulo</ref>

==Sham Wan==
{{main|Sham Wan (Lamma Island)}}
Sham Wan is one of the five most important archaeological sites in Hong Kong. The bay is the site of an important [[Bronze Age]] settlement which was unearthed by archaeologists in the 1970s. It yielded evidence of people living on Lamma during the "[[Middle Neolithic]]" phase (c. 3800–3000 BC).

Historically Sham Wan was also a place for [[green sea turtle]]s to lay eggs. The endangered green turtles are a special group of marine organisms with distinctive navigation behaviour between their nesting, breeding, development and [[reproduction]] sites. As Sham Wan is the only existing nesting site for them in Hong Kong, every year there is a period of restricted access to it from 1 June to 31 October to allow the turtles to breed.<ref>[http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_sea/con_fau_sea_con/con_fau_sea_con_the.html Conservation of sea turtles in Hong Kong]</ref> The breeding site is about {{convert|5100|m2|0|abbr=on}}. The last known nesting at Sham Wan was in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2154036/how-hike-wild-side-hong-kongs-lamma-island-idyllic-walk|title=How to hike wild side of Hong Kong's Lamma Island: idyllic walk takes in beautiful hillsides and a cosy beach|work=South China Morning Post|publication-date=7 Jul 2018}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="145px">
File:Sham Wan 20200417 163307.jpg|Sham Wan
File:Lammasouth.jpg|View of Mount Stenhouse <!-- I hope, I think this is south looking north... nope, it is north facing south. This was labelled Sham Wan, but it is not Sham Wan-->
</gallery>

==Traditional festivals==
[[File:HK YungShueWan TinHauTemple.JPG|thumb|Tin Hau Temple in Yung Shue Wan.]]

[[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau temples]] are typical places of worship in Hong Kong's coastal communities because [[Mazu (goddess)|Tin Hau]] is believed to be the goddess of the sea and of fishermen, protecting them and ensuring full nets. There are three Tin Hau temples on Lamma, located in Yung Shue Wan,<ref>[http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=8&sid=61&lang=en Exploring Islands – Tin Hau Temple, Yung Shue Wan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813004155/http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=8&sid=61&lang=en |date=13 August 2010 }}</ref> Sok Kwu Wan,<ref>[http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=9 Exploring Islands – Tin Hau Temple, Sok Kwu Wan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610202255/http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=9 |date=10 June 2011 }}</ref> and [[Luk Chau Village]].<ref>[http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=9&sid=66&lang=en Exploring Islands – Luk Chau Tin Hau Temple] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610202356/http://www.islandsdc.gov.hk/index.php?action=sight&did=9&sid=66&lang=en |date=10 June 2011 }}</ref>

The Tin Hau Festival (twenty-third of the third month of the [[Lunar Calendar]]) is widely celebrated by the fishermen's communities in Lamma. [[Cantonese opera]] and floral paper offerings known as ''Fa Pau'' at both Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan are the highlights of the celebration.

Lamma Island is also one of the few remaining places in Hong Kong where traditional [[Chinese New Year]] celebrations still take place: at the stroke of midnight, fireworks will be set off by the main families of the villages to frighten away the evil spirits, sending off a deafening thunder that can last up to 30 minutes.

==Transportation==
[[File:SouthLammaAerialCloudy.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of South Lamma]]

There are regular ferry services to [[Yung Shue Wan]] and [[Sok Kwu Wan]] from [[Central Piers|Central]] on Hong Kong Island, as well as to Yung Shue Wan via Pak Kok, and to Sok Kwu Wan via Mo Tat Wan, from [[Aberdeen, Hong Kong|Aberdeen]]. It takes about 25 minutes by ferry between Yung Shue Wan and Central. There are no cars on Lamma Island.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Alice |date=2022-03-30 |title=The joy of car-free islands |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-joy-of-car-free-islands/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[2012 Lamma Island ferry collision|Two ferries collided]] off Yung Shue Wan on 1 October 2012 at 8:20&nbsp;pm local time. With 39 killed and 92 injured, the incident was the deadliest maritime disaster in Hong Kong since 1971.<ref>{{Cite news|title=List of the 39 deceased in the Lamma ferry disaster|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1125731/list-39-deceased-lamma-ferry-disaster|work=South China Morning Post|date=11 January 2013}}</ref>

[[File:1 lamma island panorama 2011.jpg|600px|thumb|center|[[Sok Kwu Wan]], Lamma Island]]

As the island is not connected by road to the rest of Hong Kong, the only vehicles on the island are those used by the emergency services, and [[village vehicle]]s, which are used to transport goods. The main method of getting around the island is on foot or by bicycle.

==Education==
Lamma Island is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 96, which contains a single aided school, Northern Lamma School; no government primary schools are in this net.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-96b.pdf|title=POA School Net 96|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-09-12}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Chow Yun-fat]], actor; born and raised on Lamma Island<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chow Yun-Fat |url=https://www.biography.com/people/chow-yun-fat-9542273 |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515183933/https://www.biography.com/people/chow-yun-fat-9542273 |archive-date=15 May 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |author=Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, The |title=Chow Yun-fat |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chow-Yun-Fat |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |date=14 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_text_direct-0=0EAF46E2D345CD11&p_field_direct-0=document_id |date=15 March 1999 |page=D4 |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |title=A man of melodrama: Action films made Chow Slightly-Fat famous, but 'The Corruptor' star says he's an actor |url-access=subscription  |access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref>
*John D. Romer, a British veteran, discovered a new species of frog, [[Romer's tree frog]] (''Liuixalus romeri''), an endangered species, in a cave in 1952.
*[[Marli Siu]], Scottish actress<ref>{{cite web |title='I spent six years working to get to this place': Everything I Know About Love actor Marli Siu |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/12/i-spent-six-years-working-to-get-to-this-place-everything-i-know-about-love-actor-marli-siu |website=the Guardian |access-date=22 June 2022 |language=en |date=12 June 2022}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Hong Kong|Islands|Geography}}
* [[List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong]]
* ''[[Skyluck]]''
* [[Stone circles (Hong Kong)]]
* [[Tai Peng]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1= Hamilton|first1= Eric|last2= Schofield|first2= Walter|last3= Peplow|first3= S. H.|last4= Tsui|first4= Paul|last5= Coates|first5= Austin|authorlink5=Austin Coates |last6= Hayes|first6= James|authorlink6=James W. Hayes|editor1-first=John|editor1-last=Strickland|title= Southern District Officer Reports: Islands and Villages in Rural Hong Kong, 1910-60|year= 2010|publisher= [[Hong Kong University Press]]|isbn=9789888028382|pages=131–158 |chapter=Chapter 4. Lamma Island}}
* {{cite book |title= Settlement, Life, and Politics: Understanding the Traditional New Territories|last= Hase|first= P. H.|author-link= Patrick Hase|chapter=Chapter 4. The History of Lamma Island |year= 2020|publisher= [[City University of Hong Kong Press]]|series= [[Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|Royal Asiatic Society]] Hong Kong studies series|isbn= 9789629374419}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Lamma Island}}
{{Wikivoyage|Hong Kong/Lamma|Lamma Island}}
* [http://www.lamma.com.hk/index.htm Lamma.com.hk] News, Events, Lamma-zine, Stories, Pictures, Forums, Classifieds from & for the Lamma Community & Visitors.
* [http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/attractions/outlying-lamma-island.html Lamma Island] – Lamma Island page at the [[Hong Kong Tourism Board]].
* [http://www.12hk.com/area/Lamma/LammaIsland.shtml More photos of Lamma Island]
* "Archaeological Finds on Lamma Island", 1932–1936 article series in ''The Hong Kong Naturalist'' by Daniel J. Finn: [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/8fd8c081f7d6682c827d96fc653aac63.pdf I], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/3b6c32a4cc6587cd0f4d9c525380ba1e.pdf II], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/112fa797d7446eb889202869763f4c24.pdf III], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/d07404a8f9cefea99d99f9a4d3916bee.pdf IV], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/ece8e28c4f24eaefe3f9b513594dea8d.pdf V], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/aa35ca42ac2e442c84aca9e02ed6f40b.pdf VI], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/9fa8137fd55a3cbb4e0dbc505fdfa931.pdf VII], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/8906d5b26153b4dc55f642ae27849901.pdf VIII], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/ac180a9aa46d07327237f6d72bd7dc35.pdf IX], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/60ae946307667908ada16aefb2a44b63.pdf X], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/3e73aef76b12cd89e99141dc5892fd7c.pdf XI], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/5b9ae790696b512e56e9bc503d85ae08.pdf XII], [http://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/4b1f26a0a7f8285b2e0cd6522310eb45.pdf XIII]

{{Islands District}}
{{Islands of Hong Kong}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Car-free islands of Asia]]
[[Category:Lamma Island| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Islands of Hong Kong]]