Kai-to

Passengers boarding a larger kai-to heading to Peng Chau at the Discovery Bay Kai-to pier in Nim Shue Wan.

The kai-to, sometimes kaito or kaido (Chinese: 街渡; Jyutping: gaai1 dou2; pinyin: Jiēdù) is a type of small, motorised ferry that operates in Hong Kong. They are usually used to serve remote coastal settlements in the territory's outlying islands.^[1]

There are currently 78 fixed kai-to routes, mostly used to ferry passengers between the outlying islands of Lantau Island, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, and Lamma Island, among others, to the west of Hong Kong, and to enclave villages in the Tolo Harbour, Double Haven, Port Shelter, etc. in eastern New Territories.

Certain routes within Victoria Harbour are still served by Kai-tos, including the Sai Wan Ho to Kwun Tong route.

Operators

Coral Sea Ferry (珊瑚海船務) - 3 routes
Peng Chau Kaito Ltd (坪洲街渡)
Lum Kay Kaito (林記街渡) - 1 routes
Chuen Kee Ferry (全記渡)
Tsui Wah Ferry (翠華船務)
Fortune Ferry (富裕小輪)

Regular Kaito Ferry Services

Source:^[2]

Aberdeen - Ap Lei Chau
Aberdeen/Stanley - Po Toi Island
Cheung Chau Public Pier - Sai Wan
Discovery Bay - Peng Chau/Trappist Monastery
Ma Liu Shui – Lai Chi Wo
Ma Liu Shui - Kat O/Ap Chau
Ma Liu Shui - Tap Mun
Ma Liu Shui - Tung Ping Chau
Sai Wan Ho - Tung Lung Island
Sam Ka Tsuen - Tung Lung Island
Sai Kung – Fo Tau Fan Chau
Sha Tau Kok - Ap Chau/Kat O
Tap Mun - Wong Shek Pier (via Ko Lau Wan and Chek Keng)
Wong Shek Pier - Wan Tsai (Nam Fung Wan)/Chek Keng
Tai Shui Hang - Ma Liu Shui/Tai Mei Tuk
Sam Mun Tsai – Tai Shui Hang/Lai Chi Wo/Kat O/Ap Chau

References

^ Hayes, James (2006). The great difference: Hong Kong's New Territories and its people, 1898-2004. Hong Kong University Press. p. 208. ISBN 9789622097940.: "Cargo junks of the type still known as kai to or "local ferry" had long plied between NT ports, Hong Kong, and places in the Canton Delta: see e.g. the list of ports in the papers at GN 170 in HKGG, 17 November 1866. They were sometimes operated in the public interest and paid for from public funds."
^ "Transport Department - Kaito Ferry Service Details". www.td.gov.hk. Retrieved 5 May 2023.