Tai Kok Tsui

Tai Kok Tsui
Traditional Chinese 大角嘴/大角咀
A view of Tai Kok Tsui
Central Park
Harbour Green
One Silversea
Shining Heights

Tai Kok Tsui (Chinese: 大角嘴 or 大角咀) is an area west of Mong Kok in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The mixed land use of industrial and residential is present in the old area. The Cosmopolitan Dock and oil depots were previously located there. Blocks of high-rise residential buildings have been erected on the reclaimed area to the west, which marked the revitalization of the area with many restaurants and bars setting up shop. Many of the older residential buildings have been vacated and are set to be replaced by luxury high-rise buildings.

Demography

Until recently, many of the residents in Tai Kok Tsui were senior citizens but there has been a more recent influx of younger people, especially those returning to Hong Kong after time spent overseas. Traditionally the area has been known as one characterised by the presence of immigrants - often described as 'illegal immigrants' though this term is used rather intolerantly in Hong Kong and at times may describe people who are no such thing.

History

Before any reclamation, Tai Kok Tsui was geographically a long island of Hong Kong of granite linked by an isthmus at its north to Kowloon Peninsula. The long granite hill divided the reclamation in its east and dock area in the west in 1924. The tip of the cape hosted the Asia oil tanks. The area was mainly for dock facilities at this period as reflected in present-day Anchor Street. The Cosmopolitan Dock survived till the 1960s which is now Cosmopolitan Estate (大同新邨).

The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link will be built underneath Tai Kok Tsui. In January 2010, the local residents protested and said the railway would cause unbearable noise pollution to residents in some districts and could cause a number of old buildings with poor foundations to collapse.[1]

Coast and reclamation

The Chinese character Tsui (嘴) in Tai Kok Tsui implies that the area was originally an elongated cape on the west side of Kowloon Peninsula. The cove between the cape and Kowloon Peninsula was reclaimed during the period of 1867–1904. More reclamation along its shore took place during the period of 1904–1924 and more covered its tip during the period of 1924–1945. Minor reclamation was needed during the period 1964–1982 when the Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier (大角嘴碼頭) was built. The launch of the Airport Core Programme in the 1990s gave rise to substantial reclamation as well as revitalisation of the district. Part of Tai Kok Tsui - the area newly reclaimed in the 1990s - is increasingly referred to as Olympic due to the nearby MTR Station opened in 1998, and the Olympian City shopping centre.

Housing

Island Harbourview

Main article: Island Harbourview

Island Harbourview (维港灣; wai4 gong2 waan1), completed 1998-99, was the first private housing estate to be built in the newly reclaimed area. It is located next to Olympian City 1 and was built by Sun Hung Kai Properties. There are 9 blocks in total which form an 'L' shape. Blocks 1,2,3,5 and 6 faces East/West while Blocks 7,8,9 and 10 face North/South. The estate has a clubhouse with many facilities such as a swimming pool and 2 badminton courts. It is located at 11 Hoi Fai Road Tai Kok Tsui, but its car entrance is at Hoi Fan Road (near the intersection with Hoi Fai Road).

Central Park

Central Park (帝柏海灣; dai3 paak3 hoi2 waan1) is a private housing estate located in the area. It is one of the projects of MTR Olympic Station Phase II and is built on the reclaimed land of the old Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter.[2] Developed in 2001 by a consortium composed of MTR Corporation, Sino Land, Kerry Properties, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and China Overseas Land and Investment, it comprises 4 high-rise buildings (Block 1,2,3,5) with a total of 1,344 units.[3][4]

Florient Rise

Main article: Florient Rise

Florient Rise (海桃灣; hoi2 tou4 waan1), formerly Cherry Street Project (櫻桃街項目; jing1 tou4 gaai1 hong6 muk6)[5] is a private estate in Cherry Street. It was jointly developed by Nan Fung Group and Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in 2008, and construction was completed in May 2009. It comprises three blocks with a total of 522 units.[6][7]

There is a residential block called "Hoi Ming Court" in the middle of the site which was excluded from the redevelopment project due to its young age and high acquisition cost. Florient Rise was built around Hoi Ming Court.[8]

Harbour Green

Harbour Green (君滙港; gwan1 wui6 gong2) is a private estate and part of the Olympic Station Phase III project. It comprises five 48 or 56 floors towers with a total of 1,514 units. It was jointly developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and MTR Corporation and completed in 2007.[9]

One Silversea

One Silversea (一號銀海; jat1 hou6 ngan4 hoi2) is a private estate located at the waterfront site of the former Tai Kok Tsui Temporary Bus Terminus, it was developed by Sino Land and completed in 2006.[10]

Shining Heights

Shining Heights (亮賢居; loeng6 jin4 geoi1), at 83 Sycamore Street, was developed by Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited and its parent company, Henderson Land Development. It was formerly Hong Kong Ferry Staff Quarters[11][12] It comprises one tower with a total of 348 units, which was completed in 2009.[13]

The Hermitage

This is a private estate located above the newly developed Olympian City 3.

Schools and colleges

References

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