New $15 Million Tai O Footbridge Ended Century-Old Rope Ferry

A new $15 million pedestrian bridge opened between Lantau and Tai O on September 29, 1996, bringing an end to the century-old rope-ferry service that had carried passengers across Tai O creek.

Bridge replaces the only creek crossing

The rope-guided ferry had been the only way to cross the 15-metre Tai O creek before the pedestrian bridge was built.

Until the bridge opened, passengers using the ferry paid 50 cents for each trip across the creek.

The South China Morning Post report, first published on September 30, 1996, said the ferry’s years of service came to an end “yesterday” with the opening of the new bridge.

A 100-year service closes

The archived report was headlined “New footbridge ends 100 years of rope-ferry service” and was written by Shirley Kwok.

Its significance lay in replacing a crossing method that had served Tai O for about a century with a fixed pedestrian link between the islands.

Source: South China Morning Post