Tablet of the Forbid Expropriating Fishing Boat Decree, Historical stele on Peng Chau Island, Hong Kong.
This stele on Peng Chau Island is an old stone tablet with carved text located along Wing On Street. The stone records rules designed to shield fishing boats from being seized, serving as a permanent record of past maritime protections.
The tablet was erected in 1835 when maritime activities expanded and officials sought to protect local fishing boats from seizure. It marks an early moment when Peng Chau moved to officially safeguard the fishing rights of its community members.
The inscription shows how much fishing mattered to Peng Chau residents and records their effort to protect their livelihood through law. You can still see these rules carved in stone, reflecting a real concern of island people who depended on the sea for survival.
The stone sits in an open area along Wing On Street on Peng Chau, reachable by regular ferries from Hong Kong. Since it stands on an island, check ferry schedules in advance and prepare for warm, humid weather throughout the year.
This tablet ranks among the oldest documented efforts in the Hong Kong region to protect fishing rights through formal government action. It reveals how island communities sought official backing for their fishing interests centuries ago, long before modern regulatory systems existed.
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