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Kwun Tong District

Coordinates: 22°18′48″N 114°13′33″E / 22.31326°N 114.22581°E / 22.31326; 114.22581
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the administrative district. For the area, see Kwun Tong.

Kwun Tong
觀塘區
District
Kwun Tong District
Kwun Tong skyline and Yau Tong in the distance
Lam Tin skyline
Tin Hau Temple
Map
Location of Kwun Tong District within Hong Kong
Location of Kwun Tong District within Hong Kong
Coordinates: 22°18′48″N 114°13′33″E / 22.31326°N 114.22581°E / 22.31326; 114.22581
Statutory-defined areaNew Kowloon
RegionHong Kong (special administrative region)
CountryChina
Constituencies40
Government
 • District OfficerAndy Lam
 • District Council ChairmanHO Lap Ki, Denny, JP
 • District Council Vice-ChairmanLui Tung-hai
Area
 • Total
11.05 km2 (4.27 sq mi)
Population
 (2023[1])
 • Total
666,500
 • Density60,000/km2 (160,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (Hong Kong Time)
Largest neighbourhood by populationKwun Tong (161,884 – 2016 est)[2]
Location of district council and district office392 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong
WebsiteKwun Tong District Council
Kwun Tong District
Traditional Chinese觀塘區
Simplified Chinese观塘区
Cantonese YaleGūntòhng kēui
JyutpingGun1tong4 keoi1
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuāntáng qū
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationGūntòhng kēui
JyutpingGun1tong4 keoi1
IPA[kun˥.tʰɔŋ˩ kʰɵɥ˥]

Kwun Tong is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in Kowloon, and is the easternmost and southernmost district in Kowloon. It had a population of 666,500 in 2023.[3] The district has the second highest population in Hong Kong, after Sha Tin District, while the income is below average.[4] Kwun Tong District borders Sai Kung District to the east, Wong Tai Sin District to the north, and Kowloon City District to the west. To the south is Victoria Harbour, and the Eastern District directly across on Hong Kong Island.

It is the most densely populated district in Hong Kong, at 60,000 per km², but it is also one of the largest industrial areas in Hong Kong. Kwun Tong District is known for its industry, with factories built during the 1950s; they were mainly located in Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, and Yau Tong.[5] Since the relocation of the manufacturing industry, Kwun Tong district has seen a rise of commercial buildings, such as APM Millennium City 5. Kwun Tong is served by six stations on the Kwun Tong line: Yau Tong (also on the Tseung Kwan O line), Lam Tin, Kwun Tong, Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay.

Pollution, poverty and ageing population remain concerns for the district. According to statistical figures, the proportion of poor people in this district is 28.8% in 2020, while the proportion of the elderly population is 23.4% in 2022.[3] Furthermore, the number of poor people living in this district is 191,500, which is the highest in Hong Kong.[6]

Areas

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The district consists of the following areas:

Features

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Industrial area

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Kwun Tong District was one of the many industrial areas in Hong Kong. The factories had been built since the 1950s. These industrial areas are mainly located in Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong (to the southwest of Kwun Tong Road), and Yau Tong. The area south of Kwun Tong road was the largest industrial area in Hong Kong during the 1970s to mid 1980s, accounting for one third of all industrial employment at the time.[7] Many textile, manufacturing, food, and electronics industries were based there during this period, such as: Union Button Factory Ltd., Seven-up Beverages Limited, Sanden Electronics Equipment Ltd, Hong Kong Soya Bean Products Co. Ltd (Later Vitasoy).[8]

Since the 1978 economic reforms in Mainland china which established cities such as Zhuhai and Shenzhen as Special Economic Zones, many factories have moved away from Hong Kong into the mainland. Manufacturing in Hong Kong had since sharply declined.[8]

In 2001, Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong's industrial districts were rezoned for 'business' use, many industrial buildings have been demolished or repurposed as commercial buildings or shopping malls such as APM. While old industrial buildings have become popular to small businesses, artists, musicians, and collectors, who set up their working spaces there due to cheaper rents.[7]

APM Millennium City 5

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Opened in Hong Kong in April 2005, APM Millennium City 5 is a commercial property developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties. Together with Millennium Cities 1, 2, 3, and 6, they are commercial properties situated along Kwun Tong Road. APM Millennium City 5 is next to the Kwun Tong station. There is also a 7-storey shopping arcade with an array of restaurants, clothing stores, cosmetics shops, and a cineplex. It also contains a bus terminus and parking facilities.

It is the largest mall in the district, and caters for the habits of the community by having extended operating hours. Its name 'APM' implies that visitors are welcome during day (am) and night (pm). In fact, many shops inside the mall are open overnight. Some retail shops close at 12 midnight, and restaurants close at 2am. There are also stores that operate 24 hours.[9]

Residential area

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The residential areas in Kwun Tong are mainly located in Ngau Tau Kok, upper Kwun Tong Central, Sau Mau Ping and Lam Tin. In 2005, Around 61% of the population of the Kwun Tong District live in public housing estates, 16% in the Home Ownership Scheme estates, and 23% in private housing.[10]

With the redevelopment schemes of housing estates being completed successively in recent years such as the Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate in 2009, many older estates have been replaced by new ones, with most residents being able to relocate to new flats of better condition.[11] Another renewal project, the renewal of Kwun Tong Town Center (KTTC) led by the Urban Renewal Authority, aimed at redevelop many infrastructures including residential buildings and was also largely successful. The project increased the living conditions of many residents while giving a renewed look to the amenities of the district, many residents were satisfied with their relocated places.[12]

Though many have benefited from the residential redevelopments starting from the 2000s, it has also sparked dissatisfaction from many people, who feel that redevelopment broke down social linkages and is destroying people's sense of belonging.[13] The working class and grassroots people were the most hard hit, as they could not afford the new prices and rents of the redeveloped KTTC, leading many to be forced to leave their established communities.[14]

Health care

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The supply and demand of medical and health services in Kwun Tong are all very stringent, and especially the accident and emergency services are provided by the United Christian Hospital which is the only hospital in the District equipped with casualty facilities. In the event of accidents and disasters, the injured have to be sent there for emergency medical treatment. In addition, various health services are provided by the Department of Health in the District, including an elderly health centre, a woman health centre, a chest clinic, a child assessment centre, a dermatological clinic, a dental out-patient clinic, a school dental clinic, a social hygiene clinic, two maternal and child health care centres, two methadone clinics and three student health service centres/special assessment centres.

Recreational facilities

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There are nine community centres under the District Office, and they are distributed over the 8 sub-districts of the Kwun Tong District. The oldest one is the Kwun Tong Community Centre, which is already 34 years old, while the newest one is the Sai Tso Wan Neighbourhood Community Centre. The construction of the Centre, which was completed in 1993, is the ancillary requirement that Laguna City developer has to fulfil for property development therein.

Transport

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Kwun Tong is served by the Kwun Tong line (six stations) and the Tseung Kwan O line (one station) of the MTR metro system.

Major roads that serves the area include:

Public transport

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  • MTR
  • (franchised) bus
    • KMB : 1A, 2A, 2X, 3D, 5D, 5M, 5R, 6D, 6E, 6P, 9, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11X, 13D, 13P, 13M, 13X, 14, 14B, 14D, 14H, 14X, 15, 15A, 15X, 16, 16M, 16X, 17, 23, 23M, 24, 26, 26M, 26X, 27, 28, 28B, 28S, 29M, 33, 33B, 38, 38P, 40, 40A, 40P, 42, 42C, 49, 62P, 62X, 69C, 74, 74A, 74B, 74C, 74D, 74E, 74F, 74P, 74X, 80, 80A, 80P, 80X, 83A, 83X, 88, 88X, 89, 89B, 89C, 89D, 89P, 89X, 91, 91M, 91P, 91S, 92, 92R, 93A, 93K, 93P, 95, 95M, 96, 98, 98A, 98B, 98C, 98D, 98E, 98P, 213A, 213B, 213D, 213M, 213S, 214, 214P, 215P, 215X, 216M, 219X, 224X, 234C, 234D, 252X, 258A, 258D, 258P, 258S, 258X, 259D, 259S, 259X, 267X, 268A, 268C, 268P, 269C, 269S, 274X, 277A, 277E, 277P, 277X, 290, 290A, 290E, 290X, 292P, 293S, 296A, 296C, 296D, 296P, 297, 297P, 298X, N3D, N213, N214, N216, N290, N293, T74, T277, X6C, X42C, X42P, X89D
    • Citybus : 22, 22M, 55, 78C, 78P, 78X, 790, 793, 795, 795X, 796P, 796S, 797, A22, A26, A28, A29, E22, E22A, E22C, E22P, E22S, E22X, N26, N29, N796, NA29
    • Harbour-crossing routes : 101/R, 107, 108, 111/P, 601/P, 603/A/P/S, 606/A/X, 608/P, 613/A, 619/P/X, 621, 641, 671/X, 690/P, 694, N121, N619, N691
  • Minibus / Public Light Bus
    • Green Minibus
      • to-and-fro Kowloon : 15, 16, 16A, 16B, 16S, 22A, 22M, 23, 23B, 23C, 23M, 24, 34M, 34S, 35, 36A, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51M, 54, 54M, 54S, 56, 59, 60, 63, 68, 69, 71A, 71B, 76A, 76B, 83A, 83M,86, 87, 89A, 89B, 89C, 90A, 90B
      • to-and-fro New Territories : 1, 1A, 1S, 10M, 11, 11S, 12, 12A, 13, 17, 19S, 102, 102B, 102S, 103, 104, 110, 110A, 111, 501S
    • Red Minibus
      • There are about 28 routes, some travel throughout the district, while others goes to-and-fro Mong Kok, Castle Peak Road, Jordan Road, Hung Hom etc.
  • Ferry : Kwun Tong Pier
  • only full-day operated routes are listed above.

Education

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Administration

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District officer

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Chairman of Kwun Tong District Council

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  • Mr. HO Lap Ki, Denny, JP[16]

LegCo

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In the same constituency with Wong Tai Sin District as "Kowloon East", effective from October 2004:[needs update]

Panorama

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Kwun Tong District 2014

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Population Profile of Kwun Tong District" (in English and Chinese). Social Welfare Department, Hong Kong Government. 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  2. ^ District Profiles, Hong Kong Government, 8 December 2017, retrieved 15 April 2020
  3. ^ a b "Population Profile of Kwun Tong District". Social Welfare Department.
  4. ^ "Chart 3.2 : Median monthly household income by District Council district and type of households". Census and Statistics Department.
  5. ^ 梁, 炳華 (2008). 觀塘風物志 (in Chinese). 觀塘區議會. p. 89.
  6. ^ Ng, Sue (15 November 2021). "Explainer: One-fifth of Hongkongers live in poverty. Here's what you need to know". Young Post | South China Morning Post.
  7. ^ a b Leung, Ping Wa. "Kwun Tong - History". 香港文化18區.
  8. ^ a b Culture and Development Consultancy Limited (July 2014). Study on Industrial Heritage of Kowloon East and Its Potential for Public Art/ Urban Design (PDF) (Report). pp. 15–20.
  9. ^ "About Us". APM.
  10. ^ "COP paper 13, District Visit - Kwun Tong", Commission On Poverty, (2005), p.2.
  11. ^ "Historical Background of Lower Ngau Tau Kok (II) Estate". Hong Kong Housing Authority.
  12. ^ Tsang, Churn; Hsu, Lin-Fang (1 May 2022). "Beneath the appearance of state-led gentrification: The case of the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment in Hong Kong". Land Use Policy. 116: 106054. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106054. ISSN 0264-8377.
  13. ^ "Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Kwun Tong Town Centre Redevelopment Through Cultural Landscape". The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
  14. ^ Chau, Candice. "The last merchants of Hong Kong's Yue Man Square". Hong Kong Free Press.
  15. ^ "New District Officer for Kwun Tong assumes office".
  16. ^ "Organisation Chart of Kwun Tong District Council" (PDF). January 2024.
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