Chek Lap Kok

Chek Lap Kokis anislandin the western waters ofHong Kong'sNew Territories. Unlike the smallerLam Chau, it was only partially leveled when it was assimilated vialand reclamationinto the 12.48 square kilometres (4.82 sq mi) island for the currentHong Kong International Airport, which opened for commercial aviation in 1998. The airport is popularly referred to asChek Lap Kok Airportto distinguish it from the former Hong Kong International Airport, now commonly known asKai Tak Airport.
Hong Kong SkyCity, a business and entertainment complex, is also located on Chek Lap Kok. It includesAsiaWorld–Expo, a convention and exhibition centre, which opened in 2005.Cathay Pacific City, the head office ofCathay Pacific;HAECO,and formerlyHong Kong Airlinesare also located on the airport platform.
The name of the island may be derived from the bareness of the island ('da chek lak'), that the shape of the island resembles thePagrus('chek lap',赤鱲), or that the fish was once abundant in its vicinity.
The island is located north ofLantau IslandoffMa Wan ChungandTung Chung. Before the building of the airport platform, it was a small and hilly island, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long, with an area of 3.02 square kilometres (1.17 sq mi)(other sources mention 2.8 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi)).The southern end of the island formed a small peninsula, which has been left largely undeveloped.This area is facing Tung Chung and is now namedScenic Hill.It is the site of the Ancient Kiln Parkand the Airport Island Angle Station of theNgong Ping 360cable car.
The island has been inhabited on and off since theMiddle Neolithicperiod 6,000 years ago.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the inhabitants of the island practiced farming, including rice cultivation,and quarrying.
At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Chek Lap Kok was 77. The number of males was 55.The population was about 200 in the 1950s, rising sharply in the 1960s. The population later declined, with some 20 families remaining on the island when the plan for the construction of a new airport was announced in the early 1990s.
Archeological surveys and investigations were conducted on the island starting in the late 1970s.A salvage archaeology project started in October 1990.
The original farming and fishing villages on the island were relocated to Chek Lap Kok New Village aka. Chek Lap Kok San Tsuen (赤鱲角新村) near Tung Chung on Lantau Island. ATin Hau Templehad been built in 1823 at the north east of the island. The entire temple was built of granite quarried on the island.It was dismantled in 1991 and rebuilt in 1994 at its present location.Chek Lap Kok San Tsuen is a recognized village under theNew TerritoriesSmall House Policy.
Also,Romer's tree frog(Philautus romeri), a uniquespeciesof finger-sizedfrogfound only in Hong Kong, was relocated from Chek Lap Kok to newhabitatson Lantau Island before construction of the airport.
A third runway at Hong Kong Airport is being built as part of theHong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2030.
Most of Lantau Island, including Chek Lap Kok New Village, is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 98, which contains multipleaided schoolson Lantau Island; no government primary schools are in this net.