A study of the coastal scenery between Po Pin Chau and Pak Lap

Abstract

Po Pin Chau (破邊洲) and Pak Lap (白腊) are located in High Island (糧船灣), which belongs to the eastern side of the Sai Kung Peninsula in the eastern New Territories. The area is incluced as part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark and is well-known among Hong Kongers for its spectacular hexagonal columnar-jointed rock structures, beautiful scenery and hiking trails. The development of coastal scenery has been a study of interest. Many researchers have ascribed the formation of rock shore platforms to coastal weathering and erosion of wind and waves (Kennedy and Dickson, 2006). Coastal processes through marine (waves and tides) and subaerial (weathering) influences are seen as vital factors that weaken the strength of a rock resulting in faults, joints and decomposition that can lead to the development of different coastal geomorphology. This paper is going to investigate the coastal scenery, shore features and the work of sea (process of marine erosion and deposition) the specific coastal areas in Sai Kung. Seeing the lack of study among the coastal geomorphology in the area, the aim of the study is to develop a field guide focusing the description and investigation of the coastal scenery between Po Pin Chau and Pak Lap. The data used in the dissertation are either obtained through field observations in the study area or summarized from existing literature. Five beaches and one cliff were selected for analysis. Beaches sediment samples were collected, beach orientation and width measured, and beach profiles made to analyze the morphological characteristic of the beaches. Prevailing wave regime was estimated according to the procedures suggested by previous studies to obtain the shaping features of the beach. A coastal cliff profiles was plotted in this part in order to determine the related retracting faceslope form and analysis the relative efficiency of marine and subaerial processes.