Starling Inlet or Sha Tau Kok Hoi is a harbour in northeast New Territories, Hong Kong. The whole body of water falls within the Closed Area and generally restricted to local residents.
Settlements around the harbour include: Sha Tau Kok, Wu Shek Kok, Yim Tso Ha, Nam Chung, Luk Keng, Kai Kuk Shue Ha, Fung Hang, Kuk Po, Yung Shue Au.
Islets within Starling Inlet include A Chau, near the southwestern end of the Inlet, and Shui Cham Tsui Pai.
A section of Starling Inlet located offshore of Sha Tau Kok is one of the 26 designated marine fish culture zones in Hong Kong.[1]
The border town Sha Tau Kok is located at the north of the opening of the inlet to Mirs Bay. For those who are not residents within the Closed Area, or are not crossing the border, a Closed Area Permit is required.
On 15 February 2012, areas around Sha Tau Kok (but not the town itself) were taken out of the Frontier Closed Area. The checkpoint at Shek Chung Au on Sha Tau Kok Road was decommissioned.[2] [3]