Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi (), or
Tsing Yi Island () is an
island of
Hong Kong, to the northwest of
Hong Kong Island. Area: 10.67 km².The island has extended drastically by reclamation of almost all its natural shore and annexation of
Nga Ying Chau and
Chau Tsai. Three major bays or harbours,
Tsing Yi Tong ,
Mun Tsai Tong and
Tsing Yi Bay in the northest, have been completely reclaimed for
new towns.
The Island can be considered as four quarters
quarters, the northeast quarter is a residential area, the southeast quarter is a container port, the southwest holds heavy industry, and the northwest includes a recreation trail, a transportation interchange and some ship yards. The island is at the northwest part of
Victoria Harbour and part of its development is under the law, Chapter 531, the
Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.
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Constituencies in 2003 District Council Election. Tsing Yi Island is the island on the left. |
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The position of Tsing Yi Island, as Chun Fa Lok (春花落), in the map of Yuet Tai Kei (粵大記) written by Kwok Fei (郭棐) during Ming Dynasty. (Note: The south is on the top of the map.) |
Tsing Yi ('衣) means green (or black) clothes. It is also a kind of fish, probably
Green Wrasse, once abundant in nearby waters. People named the island after the fish.
Tsing Yi Tam ('衣潭,
lit. Tsing Yi Pool) or
Tsing Yi Tam Shan ('衣潭山,
lit. Tsing Yi Pool Hill) also appeared on some early Chinese maps.
The Island was also known as Chun Fa Lok (春花落) once upon a time, which means "the fall of spring flowers", or
Chun Fa Island, on some Western maps. Now,
Chun Fa Lok is still a place name on the southeast corner of the island. A government document in
Ming Dynasty named the water near Chun Fa Lok
Chun Fa Yeung (春花洋), probably now the
Rambler Channel. The Ming navy defeated fleets of pirates there.
In some historical sources,
Tsing-I Island is used instead of
Tsing Yi Island, and
Chung-Hue Island instead of
Chun Fa Island.
Tsing Yi, together with
Kwai Chung, is part of
Tsuen Wan New Town of the
Kwai Tsing District in the
New Territories. Though Tsing Yi is a
de facto outlying island, it is not accordingly included in the
Islands District.
Historically, Tsing Yi Island, with Kwai Chung, were usually in the same administration unit of
Tsuen Wan because of their proximity and closely-knitted neighbourhood. Unlike Kwai Chung, however, whose
villages are part of
Tsuen Wan Rural Committee, Tsing Yi Island has its own,
Tsing Yi Rural Committee. The
rural committee was politically significant until the establishment of a
District Council and
Regional Council (now-abolished), and even less significant since the urban population grew much larger than the rural population.
There were about 4000 people on the island when the British took the New Territories around 1898. From the 2001
Census, there were 193432 people, i.e. 55478
households, on the island. In the past hundred years, the
population has grown to nearly 50 times the size. It is expected to grow to 203300 in the future.
Tsing Yi Island is a hilly island with
Tsing Yi Peak in the south and
Liu To Shan in the north east. Small plain can be found surroudning the former
Tsing Yi Lagoon in island northeast. The rocks on the island are mainly
granite and were exposed due to extensive housing, industrial and infrastructure construction. Although the island is not fallen in the administration of
country park, most of the hilly area remains green. The Tsing Yi Peak climbs to 334 metres and is a barrier separating industrial west and residental east.
The hilly area of the island largely remains intact and is designated as a
green belt. In
1997 a once lost endemic plant,
Hong Kong croton, was found in the woodland beneath the highest peak,
Tsing Yi Peak, on the island.
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Tsing Yi Promenade along Rambler Channel |
In the early days, the inhabitants on the island were mostly farmers and fishermen. The major population concentrated in the northeast portion of the island. Farmers grew
rice, vegetables and
pineapples, while fishermen lived in huts connected by plank walkways in the small harbour of
Tsing Yi Tong which stretched far back into the island. Many fishermen also lived on their
junks and boats all the time, fishing in the nearby waters. Even as late as the 1970s, Tsing Yi Tong resembled
Tai O with its characteristical
stilt houses and water vehicles. Like many other fishing villages in Hong Kong, the Tsing Yi dwellers worshipped
Tin Hau, the goddess of mercy and the sea. A
Tin Hau Temple was built on the shore of Tsing Yi Tong. At the birthday of Tin Hau, fishermen of all nearby waters would come to the Temple for celebrations. The temple was white in color and thus people call it
Pak Miu (白廟,
lit. White Temple).
From the 1920s onwards, a
mainland company built
lime factories on the present site of
Greenfield Garden. It is the earliest known industry on the island. The lime industry continued to flourish during the 1950s, and a tanning factory was also founded at the same period. After
World War II, other heavy industries moved in as well. In the 1960s, several oil companies moved their oil storage depots onto the island, likewise a
China Light and Power power station, and a
Green Island Cement cement plant. Meanwhile, some small
shipbuilding companies started their business in Tsing Yi, and remain on the north side of the Island. In the 1970s, six large-scale companies on the island collectively built the
Tsing Yi Bridge to connect Tsing Yi and
Kwai Chung over the
Rambler Channel. The bridge was soon transferred to the Hong Kong Government, remaining the sole road connection to the island for more than ten years. Several industrial buildings for light industries were constructed beside the bridge afterward. Several dockyards moved to the west shore of the island at the end of the 1970s.
It is noteworthy that
Wok Tai Wan on the Tsing Yi Island was once a paradise for
nudists during the 1950s, and hence Tsing Yi was once
synonymous with nudism in Hong Kong.
After the establishment of the Tsing Yi Bridge, the Hong Kong Government commenced an extensive
new town project on the Island.
Cheung Ching Estate,
Cheung Hong Estate and
Mayfair Gardens were consequently built in heaps. The vicinity of the
Mobil oil storage depot to Mayfair Garden and Cheung Ching Estate once aroused enormous concern for the safety of the residents. Some social workers and residents urged the government to relocate the storage facilities. The government decided to halt the last phase of the Mayfair Garden development scheme. The storage facility remained at the same location until
Container Terminal 9 was on the Government's agenda.
Later on, the tenor of town development shifted northward. Two fisherman harbours, Tsing Yi Tong and
Mun Tsai Tong were
reclaimed for residental use. Many fishermen were relocated from their boats parked in the typhoon shelter to the Ching Tao House, a new residental block on land, of Chueng Ching Estate. The land inhibitants were put together into several designated areas so as to re-build their villages. The primary sectors had all died out owing to the drastic town development.
Tsing Yi Estate,
Cheung On Estate,
Cheung Fat Estate,
Ching Tai Court and
Tsing Yi Garden were built after all reclamations were accomplished.
Ching Wah Court was built adjoining to Cheung Hong Estate.
At the same time, Tsing Yi Bridge was seriously overburdened and its structure was unable to cope with ever-increasing traffic. There was only a one-way road in each direction on the bridge. Traffic congestion became the burning problem in the community, and subsequently aroused protest. Finally,
Tsing Yi North Bridge, a connection to
Tsuen Wan was built to ease off the congestion, as well as to accommodate the local residental population boom.
Tsing Yi was continually under further development and
Greenfield Garden,
Serene Garden,
Broadview Garden, and
Cheung Hang Estate were constructed.
The final decision to relocate
Hong Kong International Airport spurred a new series of development:
Airport Railway,
Ting Kau Bridge to
Ting Kau and North
New Territories,
Tsing Ma Bridge to
Ma Wan and
Lantau Island,
Rambler Channel Bridge to
Kowloon and
Hong Kong Island,
Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge on the south side of Tsing Yi Bridge.
On the island, new residental projects,
Tivoli Garden,
Grand Horizon,
Mount Haven,
Villa Esplanada,
Tierra Verde, and
Cheung Wang Estate were completed. The final part of reclaimed land near the shore had been laid waste for almost a decade until
Tsing Yi Promenade was built in 2004. Local Hong Kong cultural pursuits of Chinese music and dancing, walking and Chinese exercise are in evidence in most evenings.
During 2000 to 2004 Container Terminal 9 was built on the reclaimed southwest shore of the island, together with resident blocks,
Rambler Crest. Nearby, and well within sight of Hong Kong Central, a controversial new dioxin burning plant was also put into operation during 2004, arousing much concern for the residents of Tsing Yi and Hong Kong island.
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Clusters of highrise residental blocks in the island northeast |
Public / Tenants Purchase Scheme Housing
*
Cheung Ching Estate*
Cheung Fat Estate*
Cheung Hang Estate*
Cheung Hong Estate*
Cheung On Estate*
Cheung Wang Estate*
Easeful Court*
Tsing Yi EstateHOS/ PSPS/ Sandwish Class Scheme Housing
*
Ching Nga Court*
Ching Shing Court*
Ching Tai Court*
Ching Wah Court*
Ching Wang Court*
Serene Garden*
Tivoli GardenPrivate Housing
*
Broadview Garden*
Grand Horizon*
Greenfield Garden*
Mayfair Gardens*
Mount Haven*
Rambler Crest*
Villa Esplanada*
Tierra Verde*
Tsing Yi GardenVillage
* Chung Mei Lo Uk Village (涌美老屋村)
* Fishermen's Village (漁民村)
* Fung Shue Wo Resite Village ("樹窩新村)
* Lam Tin Resite Village (藍"村)
* St. Paul Village (聖保祿村)
* Sun Uk Resite Village (新屋村)
* Tai Wong ha Resite Village (大王下村)
* Tsing Yi Hui ('衣墟)
*
Tsing Yi Lutheran Village* Tsing Yu Resite Village ('裕新村)
* Yim Tin Kok Resite (鹽"'村)
*
Sai Shan VillageThere are two hotels at the east of Tsing Yi Island, facing the marvellous view of Rambler Channel and the container terminals. They are:
*
Mexan Harbour Hotel and
*
Rambler Garden Hotel.
Tsing Yi Island is a transportation hub in Hong Kong.
Bridges
There are eight bridges connected to the island.
*
Tsing Yi Bridge to
Kwai Chung and
Kowloon.
*
Kwai Tsing Bridge (
Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge) to
Kwai Chung and
Kowloon.
*
Tsing Tsuen Bridge (
Tsing Yi North Bridge) to
Tsuen Wan.
*
Ting Kau Bridge to
Tuen Mun and
Yuen Long (Route 3).
*
Cheung Tsing Bridge to
Kowloon and
Hong Kong Island (Route 3).
*
Tsing Ma Bridge to
Ma Wan and
Lantau Island (Route 8).
*
Tsing Lai Bridge to
Lai King Station (dedicated MTR viaduct)
*
Stonecutter's Bridge (under-construction) to
Stonecutter's Island,
Kowloon and
Sha Tin (Route 8).
Within the island:
*
Liu To Bridge (a part of Tsing Yi West Road)
Tunnels
*
Cheung Ching Tunnel (Route 3)
*
Nam Wan Tunnel (under construction) (Route 8)
Railway
Tsing Yi Station, at the northern part of Tsing Yi Island, is a part of the
MTR Tung Chung Line and
Airport Express.
Bus Terminus
There are 9
bus termini on the island:
*
Cheung Ching (長'巴士總站)
*
Cheung Hang (長亨巴士總站)
*
Cheung Hong (長康巴士總站)
*
Cheung On (長安巴士總站)
*
Cheung Wang (長宏巴士總站), formerly,
Tsing Yan ('欣)
*
Mayfair Gardens (美景花')
*
Tsing Yi AR Station ('衣機鐵站)
*
Tsing Yi Estate ('衣邨巴士總站)
*
Tsing Yi Ferry ('衣碼頭)
Pier
Before the completion of Tsing Yi Bridge,
ferry was the only
public transport to the mainland.
Tsing Yi Pier was built near
Tsing Yi Town before the reclamation. The pier followed the change of shoreline owing after reclamation, and moved to the
seafront near
Greenfield Garden.
Hovercraft service between Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Central was provided by the former
Hong Kong and Yaumatei Ferry Limited. After the franchise of the company came to an end,
Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry took over the route and operated it.
All ferry services ceased with rapid development of road and rail transport, especially
MTR Tung Chung Line with its station just a few hundred metres away from the ferry pier. It no longer takes residents to
Tsuen Wan and
Central. The pier is now open to the public, and continues to be used as a drop-off point for fishermen and tourists, and as a mooring site for Government Boats.
*
Tin Hau Temple; the temple was originally located near Tsing Yi Tong. Upon reclamation of Tsing Yi, it was moved to
Ha Ko Tan (下高灘), near today's
Chung Mei Lo Uk Village.
*
Chun Kwan Temple; the temple was relocated near
Tsing Yi Police Station.
*
Tsing Tak Tong Tat-more Temple; the
Bodhidharma temple in
Tsing Yi Lutheran Village.
*
St. Thomas the Apostle Church; the
Catholic church building, near
Tsing Yi Estate and
Tsing Yi Park, was completed in July
1999.
*
Tsing Yi Ward of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The church is near
Maritime Square and
St. Pauls Village.
*
Tai Yam Neong Neong Temple (太陰娘娘廟);
Taoist temple, worshipping the
Goddess of
Moon,
Sheung Ngo (嫦娥), located in Tsing Yi Lutheran Village.
*
Tai Wong Temple (大王古廟),
Taoist temple in Tsing Yi Lutheran Village.
*
Tsing Lam Church ('霖堂),
Protestant church by the side of
Fishermen's Village and
St. Paul's Village; the buildings were formally "
Fish Marketing Organisation Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School".
In the early days, education on the Tsing Yi Island was largely private. The first public school on the island is
Tsing Yi Public School, a primary school founded by villages and the market on the island. In post-World War II era,
Hong Kong Government provides 9-year free education to all children from primary 1 to secondary 3. The public school is then mainly funded by the Government. Another school for the children of fishermen, Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School, was founded by
Fish Marketing Organisation. In 1977, Cheung Ching Estate, the first public housing estates on the island, marked the beginning of the new town on the island. To accommodate new schooling children, three primary schools and Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College, the first secondary school on the island, were built with the estate. More schools were erected when new estates were completed. In
1999, a post-secondary college,
Hong Kong Technical College (Tsing Yi), was completed and provides vocational training for all adults in Hong Kong. In 2000s, the number of schooling children began to drop and the several schools are facing the fatal fate.
Numberous schools are founded on Tsing Yi Island, namely:
Primary Schools
*
CNEC Lui Ming Choi Primary School*
Father Cucchiara Memorial School*
HKCSCA Cheung Chi Cheong Memorial Primary School*
HKSYIC&IA Chan Lai So Chun Memorial School*
Delia (Man Kiu) English Primary School*
PLK Castar Primary School*
PLK Chan Yat Primary School*
SKH Ho Chak Wan Primary School*
SKH Tsing Yi Estate Ho Chak Wan Primary School*
SKH Tsing Yi Chu Yan Primary School*
Tsing Yi Public School*
Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School (closed)
*
Tsing Yi Trade Association Primary School*
Tsuen Wan Trade Association Primary School*
TWGHs Chow Yin Sum Primary School*
TWGHs Wong See Sum Primary School*
YCH Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary SchoolSecondary Schools
*
Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College*
Caritas St. Joseph Secondary School*
CCC Yenching College*
LST Leung Chik Wai Memorial School*
PLK Tsing Yi Secondary School (Skill Opportunity) (closed)
*
PLK 1983 Board of Directors' College *
Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School*
TWGHs S. C. Gaw Memorial CollegeSpecial School
*
PLK Mr. and Mrs. Chan Pak Keung Tsing Yi SchoolInstitute of Vocational Education
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Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi)The
Department of Health operates two
general out-patient clinics on the island. The first one is
Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic in
Cheung Hong Estate and another is
Tsing Yi Town Clinic near
Tsing Yi Garden.There is also one
maternal and child health centre,
Tsing Yi Maternal and Child Health Centre, on the island. It is just next to
Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic.
There is at least one private clinic in each housing estate.
In town planning,
Tsing Yi Hospital was supposed to be built near
Cheung Hang Estate but the plan was put off owing to financial difficulty of
Hospital Authority.
All public and private housing estates on the island have their own
shopping centres or
markets.
Cheung Fat Shopping Centre was once the greatest shopping centre, by
Hong Kong Housing Authority and was later replaced by
Maritime Square, by
MTR Corporation Limited, as the shopping focus of the island.
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Tsing Yi Swimming Pool*
Tsing Yi Sports Ground*
Fung Shue Wo Indoor Recreation Centre*
Tsing Yi Indoor Recreation Centre*
Cheung Fat Indoor Recreation Centre*
Tsing Yi Public Library*
Tsing Yi Park*
Tsing Yi Nature Trail*
Tsing Yi PromenadePeople practise
Tai Chi in
Tsing Yi Promenade near
Maritime Square in the early morning hours. Some gather and practise
dancing in the playground near Tsing Yung House of
Cheung Ching Estate.
*
Islands of Hong Kong*
List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong*
List of villages in Hong Kong#Tsing Yi Rural Committee*
Satellite image of Tsing Yi by Google Mapszh-yue:'衣島
