View source for Shek O

{{Short description|Area of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=DragonBack1.jpg
|piccap=Shek O as viewed from Dragon's Back
|t={{linktext|石|澳}}
|s={{linktext|石|澳}}
|l="Rocky Bay"
|j=Sek6ou3
|y=Sehk'ou
|ci={{IPA|yue|sɛ̀ːk̚.ōu|}}
|p=Shí'ào
|gr=Shyr'aw
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|shi|2|.|ao|4}}
|showflag=y
}}
[[File:HK ShekOTinHauTemple.JPG|thumb|[[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau Temple]] in Shek O Village]]
[[Image:ShekO-1.JPG|thumb|[[Shek O Beach]] facing the South China Sea. Sung Kong ({{lang-zh|t=|宋崗|labels=no}}), one of the [[Po Toi Islands]], is visible in the distance.]]

'''Shek O''' is an area of the south-eastern part of [[Hong Kong Island]], in [[Hong Kong]]. It can refer to '''Shek O village''', '''Shek O Peninsula''' or '''Shek O Headland'''. Administratively, they are part of [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]].
{{TOC limit|2}}

==Geography==
The name ''Shek O'' literally means the "rocky bay". The entire area is a [[peninsula]] on the southern coast of the [[Hong Kong Island]], facing the [[South China Sea]]. Shek O is surrounded by [[Shek O Country Park]], [[Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong Island|Big Wave Bay]] and [[Cape D'Aguilar]].

==Shek O Village==
Shek O Village ({{lang-zh|t=|石澳村|labels=no}}) has a history of around 200 years.<ref name="Tin Hau"/> It was established by fishermen of the Chan, Yip, Li and Lau [[Chinese clan|clans]]<ref>[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade 3 Items. Item #878] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017210647/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}</ref> and was once famous for its lobster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ebook.lib.hku.hk/CADAL/B38631982.pdf|title=The Study of Shek O Redevelopment|last=Tang Man-Bun|first=Stephen|date=August 1987|website=The University of Hong Kong Libraries}}</ref> The majority of the population previously lived on the land presently occupied by the Shek O country Club, from where it was forcibly removed. In 1841, Shek O Village as a whole, together with [[Cape D'Aguilar|Hok Tsui]] Village ({{lang-zh|t=|鶴咀村|labels=no}}) and [[Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong Island|Tai Long Wan]] Village ({{lang-zh|t=|大浪灣村|labels=no}}), had a population of around 200.

The [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau Temple]] in Shek O Village was built in 1891.<ref name="Tin Hau">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_no_grade.pdf Brief Information on No Grade Items. Item #1215] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017210551/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_no_grade.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}</ref> It is a [[List of Grade III historic buildings in Hong Kong|Grade III historic building]],<ref>[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf Antiquities and Monuments Office: List of the Historic Buildings in Building Assessment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922201550/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf |date=2013-09-22 }}</ref> and its management has been delegated by the [[Chinese Temples Committee]] to the Shek O Residents Association.<ref>[http://www.ctc.org.hk/en/indirect_control_temple.asp Chinese Temples Committee: Delegated Temples]</ref> The [[Paifang|memorial archway]] near the main entrance road to the town is inscribed with the calligraphy of R.C. Lee ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|利銘澤}}) (1905–1983).

The [[Modern architecture|modernist]] Shek O Bus Terminus building next door was constructed in 1955<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aab.gov.hk/form/shek_o_bus_terminus_bldg_en.pdf|title=Shek O Bus Terminus Bldg|website=Antiquities Advisory Board}}</ref> and designed by Hsin Yieh Architects, founded by Chinese architect Su Gin Djih ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|徐敬直}}). However, the earliest bus service to Shek O dates back to the 1920s, when the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited operated a bus route between the Hong Kong Hotel and Big Wave Bay in Shek O.

==Outdoor activities==
[[File:Beach Holiday (6701745247).jpg|thumb|right|Shek O Beach]]
[[File:Playa de Shek o beach.jpg|thumbnail|right|Shek O Beach during a Sunday dawn]]
[[Shek O Beach]] is a sandy public [[beach]] at Shek O.<ref>[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/beach-address-south.php#sheko Leisure and Cultural Services Department: Shek O Beach] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120803203014/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/beach-address-south.php |date=2012-08-03 }}</ref> The water quality is fair and is gazetted Grade 2. It is a popular weekend and holiday destination, offering a public barbecue area and many restaurants. The rocky cliffs provide an excellent place for sports climbing.

Around one mile north of Shek O beach, after passing the Shek O Country Club, is [[Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong Island|Big Wave Bay]]. As its name suggests, big waves roll on to the beach, propelled by the wind, making it a popular destination for surfers. Wind surfers can be found in the sea off Big Wave Bay and Shek O beaches. The [[Dragon's Back]] above Shek O is home to Hong Kong Island's only paragliding site. Paragliders can be seen riding the lift and landing at the nearby Rocky Bay. [[Big Wave Bay Beach]] is also the site of prehistoric [[Prehistoric Hong Kong|rock carving]] similar to those found on [[Cheung Chau]] Island.

Both beaches have basic bars and restaurants, and equipment hire, such as body boards and lilos. In addition, Shek O Beach has a small golf course.

Due to the isolated location of Shek O, the environment near the beach remains rustic and quiet, which is one of the area's main attractions.

The Shek O Country Club ({{lang-zh|t=|石澳鄉村俱樂部|labels=no}}) is built around a par 65 private golf course. Its history goes back to 1919. The construction of the Clubhouse was completed in 1925.<ref>[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade 3 Items. Item #928] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017210647/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}</ref>

=== Golf ===
[[Shek O Country Club]] is a private golf club sitting on the Shek O peninsula with a history dating back to 1921. The course is short, playing to a par 65, with no par 5s and only two par 4s measuring over 350 yards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/shek-o|title=Shek O Country Club – Hong Kong {{!}} Top 100 Golf Courses|website=www.top100golfcourses.com|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref>

===Drownings ===
Shek O Beach has been noted as generally suffering from the highest drowning rate among Hong Kong's beaches, although this is not reflected in official statistics as the [[Leisure and Cultural Services Department]] (LCSD) only records incidents which occur while lifeguards are on duty. Residents estimated nine drowning deaths at the beach in 2011, and seven in 2012, figures which were not disputed by the LCSD.<ref name=scmp/> The high rate of accidents at the beach has been attributed to its high patronage, usually strong waves, the steep underwater slope of the beach, swimmer inexperience and poor public awareness of water safety principles.<ref name=scmp>{{cite news|last1=Lanyon|first1=Charley|title=Drownings at Shek O beach go unrecorded|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1267968/unnoticed-deaths-shek-o-beach|access-date=1 August 2014|agency=South China Morning Post|date=25 June 2013}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The scenery of Shek O is the setting of numerous [[Cantopop]] [[music video]]s. The Hong Kong director [[Stephen Chow]]'s 1999 film ''[[King of Comedy (film)|King of Comedy]]'' ({{lang-zh|t=喜劇之王|labels=no}}) was also shot at Shek O.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.douban.com/note/267238918/|title=随光逐影浪香港之石澳：《喜剧之王》|newspaper=豆瓣|access-date=2016-10-07}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Shek O Bus Terminus 1.jpg|thumb|Shek O Bus Terminus]]
[[File:MC5147 Shau Kei Wan to Shek O 03-09-2018.jpg|thumb|[[Public light bus|Red minibuses]] between [[Shau Kei Wan]] and Shek O]]
Shek O is served by [[Shek O Road]], which connects [[Tai Tam Road]] to [[Stanley, Hong Kong|Stanley]] and [[Chai Wan]]. There is public transport link toward Shek O Beach: bus route 9 and [[Public light bus|red minibuses]] from [[Shau Kei Wan]]. There is limited [[parking]] near the beach.

==Education==
Shek O is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 16. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and two government schools: Shau Kei Wan Government Primary School and Aldrich Bay Government Primary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-16b.pdf|title=POA School Net 16|publisher=[[Education Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-09-12}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Chan |first1=Wing-Hoi |authorlink= |year= 1986|title=Observations at the Jiu festival of Shek O and Tai Long Wan,1986 |journal= Journal of the [[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch]]|volume= 26 |pages= 78–101|publisher= |location= |doi= |url= https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/0925de9a4d55733e2cedc09f188675fc.pdf |issn= 1991-7295|accessdate= }}
* {{cite journal|last=Choi |first=C.C.|author-link1=|year=1990|title=Studies on Hong Kong Jiao Festivals |journal=Journal of the [[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch]]|volume=30|pages=26–43 |publisher=|url=https://hkjo.lib.hku.hk/archive/files/6961e3917fbbd2702e62721f4604d7d8.pdf |issn=1991-7295|accessdate=}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Shek O}}
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.231822,114.254680&spn=0.015248,0.022790&t=k&hl=en Satellite image of Shek O by Google Maps]
* Film Services Office: [https://www.fso-createhk.gov.hk/location_database/detail/en/24/3/01767 Shek O Village]
{{Southern District, Hong Kong}}
{{Peninsulas of Hong Kong}}
{{Hong Kong Urban Areas}}

{{Coord|22|13|50|N|114|15|07|E|display=title|type:landmark}}

[[Category:Populated places in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Southern District, Hong Kong]]
[[Category:999-year leases in Hong Kong and Kowloon]]