Tai Kok Tsui

Tai Kok Tsui

Tai Kok Tsui (Chinese: 大角嘴; pinyin: Dàjiǎozuǐ 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 newly reclaimed area to the west.

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 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

Central Park

Central Park

Central Park (Chinese: 帝柏海灣) 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 old Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter.^[2] Developed by the consortium of MTR Corporation, Sino Land, Kerry Properties, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and China Overseas Land and Investment in 2001, 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 (Chinese: 海桃灣) (formerly Cherry Street Project, Chinese: 櫻桃街項目)^[5] is a private estate in Cherry Street. It was jointly developed by Nan Fung Group and Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in 2008] and completed the construction 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

Harbour Green (Chinese: 君滙港) is a private estate that's 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

One Silversea (Chinese: 一號銀海) 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

Shining Heights (Chinese: 亮賢居), 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]

References

1. ^ [1] New front opens in fight against hi-speed rail link theStandard 4th Jan 2010
2. ^ Olympic Station
3. ^ SINO LAND COMPANY LIMITED
4. ^ Central Park
5. ^ Cherry Street Project (Florient Rise)
6. ^ SIGNS OF THAW AS LAUNCHES ATTRACT MORE BUYERS ANALYSTS SAY INCREASE IN DEALS MORE A TECHNICAL REBOUND THAN CHANGE INFUNDAMENTALS
7. ^ Projects squeeze secondary prices
8. ^ Demolish our flats too, say owners Hoi Ming Court residents want a ruling to include their property in Tai Kok Tsui redevelopment
9. ^ Official website of Harbour Green
10. ^ One Silversea
11. ^ Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited
12. ^ Shining Heights Reference Information
13. ^ Henderson Land kicks off '09 plans as sentiment rises