Visit to Yim Tin Tsai

A group of Sri Lankan friends recently visited Yim Tin Tsai, a small offshore island in Sai Kung. In the late 1800s, a number of Catholic missionaries arrived from Europe and began to evangelize in the Sai Kung and Tai Po areas. The small communities built churches and chapels (one still stands near the folk museum in Pak Tam Chung), and one of the most beautiful chapels is in Yim Tin Tasi, which is a 15-minute boat ride from the Sai Kung pier.

The island had been settled by the Chan's family some 300 years ago. "Yim Tin" means salt-pan and the villagers had lived on farming and salt-making. All the locals had gradually left (a common occurrence in the New Territories, which is sprinkled with "ghost" villages as a result).

According to records, the first missionaries, two Italians, had arrived in the island in 1864 and by 1875 all the islanders had been baptized. The chapel, dedicated to St. Joseph, was built by a German priest, Rev. Josef Freinademetz, in 1890. (He was ordained to sainthood by Pope John Paul II in 2003.) The islanders apparently led exemplary Christian lives and have produced two priests, Frs. Dominic Chan and Joachim Chan, and two nuns.

On the day we visited, the boat from Sai Kung was packed with about 15 children from a primary school in Tseung Kwon O, accompanied by two teachers who were taking them on a guided tour, and an elderly gentleman and a younger woman who may have been his daughter. I later saw this pair sweeping the grounds and cleaning up around the chapel.

As we arrived, we were greeted by a friendly man who appeared to be a descendant of the Chan's and probably the only resident of the island. He managed the charming "leisure kiosk" which offered noodles, snacks, Hakka dumplings, and, most importantly, cold beer. The day turned out to be rather hot for late October.

The charming "Leisure Kiosk"


These may have been the last homes inhabited by the villagers.


The beautiful chapel built in 1890 is dedicated to St. Joseph.


The immaculately maintained interior of the chapel

Prof. Malik Peiris from HKU, the only Sri Lankan Fellow of the Royal Society. Malik discovered the SARS virus.


The well-maintained graves

The chapel seen from a distance

The abandoned salt pans. Sal was made through evaporation of brackish water.

Through the marshes


A view of the pier. Sai Kung can be seen in the distance

Yim Tin Tsai, though only a short boat ride away, is a world apart from Sai Kung and fully worth a visit. I wondered why no one had thought of setting up a Bed & Breakfast there?

If you wish to visit, boats are available on Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays from Sai Kung pier. The roundtrip fare is $35. Contact Colin 2791 6226. Thanks to ExploreSaikung for providing the contact.

After the boat trip, we stopped for lunch at "AJ"s Cuisine", the brand new Sri Lankan restaurant in Sai Kung (the only one in Hong Kong). The authentic Sri Lankan cuisine is highly recommended!