FAN LAU AND ITS FORT
87
Using the Ching dynasty maps from the District Gazetteers and the Provincial Gazetteer, I identify the places on the Chu Kong estuary section on the Mo Pei Chi charts as follows: (see map 4)— Po Toi Shan 蒲胎山 an island south of Hongkong. Now written 蒲台
Tung Keung Shan 東姜山
Yung Hai Shan 翁鞋山
Fat Tong Mun 佛堂門
Pak Tsim 北尖
Lang Tin Shan 小溪山
+
++
Tam Kon islands 檐桿
Yung Hai 湧鞋 or Hai Chau 鞋洲 retains the same name, Fat Tong Mun 佛堂門 retains the same name, Pak Tsim 北尖 as the "outer Lintin", Ngoi Ling Tin 外伶仃
as the "inner Lintin”, Ting Lin 伶仃
"Lantau", Tai Yu Shan 大嶼山
"Fan Lau", Kai Yik Kok 雞翼角
Nam Tin Shan 南停山
Tai Kai Shan 大溪山
Siu Kai Shan 小溪山
Kwun Fu Chai 宮富寨
+ present day "Kowloon City", Kau Lung Shing 九龍城
Tung Kwun Sor 東莞所 District of Tung Kwun, Tung Kwun Yuen 東莞縣
Heung Shan Sor 香山所 District of Heung Shan, Heung Shan Yuen 香山縣
The absence of any mention of the San On district (新安縣) on the charts is significant. It is highly improbable that the compilers of the charts would have deliberately omitted or accidentally overlooked that district. Now, we know that the San On district was detached in 157310 from the Tung Kwun district to form two separate districts, the Tung Kwun and the San On districts, a circumstance which confirms the suggestion that the Mo Pei Chi charts were drawn at least before the creation of the San On district. If this were the case, the Kai Yik Kok fort must also be dated before 1573, which would make it a Ming dynasty fort.
Between 1805 and 1810 control of the Chu Kong estuary slipped from the forces of the government. A new pirate leader, Cheung Po-tsai 張保仔 became master of the seas around Tai Yu Shan.