[1] The waters surrounding Tai Tau Chau and Shek O is a black spot for human smuggling and trafficking.

[2] On 11 October 1979, a boat from Meilong, Haifeng County [zh] (Chinese: 海丰县梅陇镇), Guangdong Province, had sunk near the island.

[3][4] It was reported that, as of 15 October 1979, 16 illegal immigrants from that boat were missing, of which a few swam to Shek O Beach and tried to sneak to the city centre, and the rest of them were presume drown.

[5] On 14 October 1979, another boat was discovered near the island, but the illegal immigrants escaped before the arrival of the police.

[11] The island used to be connected to Shek O Headland by a footbridge, as well as a tombolo that would be covered by water during high tides.