Tai O’s century-old rope ferry gives way to new pedestrian bridge

A century-old rope ferry between Lantau and Tai O in Hong Kong ended its service on September 29, 1996, following the opening of a new pedestrian bridge. The ferry had been the only way to cross the 15-metre Tai O creek, with passengers paying 50 cents for each trip. Its closure marked the end of a transport service that had connected the islands for about 100 years.

The new bridge cost $15 million. At its opening, Director of Territory Development Lee Shing-see described it as an important step in Tai O’s wider development programme. Lee said the rope ferry could no longer cope with traffic generated by the rapid growth of tourism and commercial activity.

He said the bridge would improve local movement while also bringing another rural characteristic to Tai O. The bridge is 56 metres long and includes a central span that can be lifted by one person. That feature allows large fishing junks to pass beneath it.

The account, first published by the South China Morning Post on September 30, 1996, records the transition from the traditional ferry to fixed pedestrian infrastructure. The supplied material does not provide further information about the ferry’s operators, the number of passengers affected or what happened to the service after its closure. It does establish that the bridge replaced the ferry as the crossing between Lantau and Tai O and was designed to address increasing local and commercial traffic.