Ap Lei Chau (Chinese: 鴨脷洲; Cantonese Yale: aap3 lei6 jau1), or Aberdeen Island, is an island of Hong Kong, located south-west of Hong Kong Island, next to Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Channel, with an area of 1.30 km². Administratively, it is part of Southern District. Ap Lei Chau is the third most densely populated island in the world.

A map dating from the Ming Dynasty shows the island. On this map is marked the village of Heung Kong Tsuen, lit. Hong Kong Village (香港村). It is probably where the name of Hong Kong originates from.

Ap Lei Chau shelters Aberdeen Harbour, creating an excellent typhoon shelter, and was a fishing village before the First Opium War. As a consequence of the Treaty of Nanking, it was ceded to the British together with Hong Kong Island in 1841. Since then, little attention had been placed on this small island.

In 1968, Hongkong Electric opened a power station on the island to provide electricity for the whole of Hong Kong Island. In 1980, a bridge was constructed to connect the island to the Hong Kong Island and brought momentum for rapid economic development. Public housing estates were built to accommodate people who suffered in a fire in the Aberdeen shelter.

Hung Shing (洪聖), also known as Hung Shing Ye (洪聖爺) and Tai Wong (大王), was a government official in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) named Hung Hei (洪熙) serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China.

His festival (洪聖誕) is held on the 13th day of the 2nd month in Chinese calendar.

Hung Hei was a righteous government official who won approbation from the people. During his tenure in office, he promoted the study and application of astronomy, geography and mathematics, and established an observatory to observe the meteorological changes, thus contributing to the well being of people under his governance, especially fishermen and sea traders. Unfortunately, he died young.

After his death, an Emperor of the Tang Dynasty disseminated his virtues to the whole country and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of Nam Hoi Kwong Li Hung Shing Tai Wong (南海廣利洪聖大王), lit. the Saint King Hung the Widely Beneficial of South Sea. It is usually shortened to Hung Shing or Tai Wong.

Legend has it that Hung Shing continued to guard the people against natural disasters on numerous occasions after his death, and showed his presence to save many people during tempests. The government as well as fishermen in the surrounding area built many temples to worship him as the God of Southern Sea. Hung Shing temples have been widely built in southern China, especially Guangdong province and in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, they are named Hung Shing Miu (洪聖廟) or Tai Wong Miu (大王廟).