Lower Kwun Tong

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Entry posted by TowerDude · May 11, 2013

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Kwun Tong (Chinese: 觀塘; Cantonese Yale: Koon Tong; originally 官塘) is an area in Kwun Tong District, situated at the eastern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, and its boundary stretches from Lion Rock in the north to Lei Yue Mun in the south, and from the winding paths of Kowloon Peak in the east to the north coast of the former Kai Tak Airport runway in the west.

One of the first New towns in Hong Kong, Kwun Tong was, and remains, a major industrial area. Its population has been growing rapidly, and the demand for housing, medical and educational facilities and services has been increasing. In view of this, a number of community development projects, such as the redevelopment of old housing estates and the construction of major parks, have been implemented in recent years. These projects have incorporated a wide range of supporting facilities, like primary and secondary schools, clinics, community centres and open spaces. All these facilities have brought about a new face to the Kwun Tong District, making it a more comfortable place for the people to live.

Kwun Tong was formerly called Koon Tong (literally Mandarin Pond). Some say it was named after the Koon Fu salt yards, set up by the government to secure central administration of the salt trade and prevent unauthorised salt preparation and trading. In those days, there were many salt yards around Kwun Tong, whose long coastline stretches as far as Kowloon Bay and To Kwa Wan in the west. Troops were stationed here to monitor the salt yards' operation. Despite the government's close watch, an illegal salt trade was still active on Lantau Island. When the officials found out, a full-scale crackdown was initiated. The Lantau villagers instigated an all-out uprising of salt farmers, leading finally to a major civil riot.

According to other stories, Kwun Tong was a typhoon shelter for the Kowloon Water Police, which made it an important political and defence point of northwest Kowloon. Black Hill (Ng Kwai Shan), which today rises up behind Lam Tin Estate, was known as Koon Fu Hill at that time.

In the 1950s, when Koon Tong was being developed as a New town, the local residents disliked the word Koon (官), which literally means official or government, and they persuaded the Hong Kong government to change the place name to Kwun Tong (觀塘), which literally means viewing a pond.

Kwun Tong is served by the Kwun Tong Station of MTR's Kwun Tong Line.

Roads that are serving the area include:

Kwun Tong Road

Kwun Tong Bypass

Tseung Kwan O Tunnel

Kwun Tong Pier used to be a major transport hub for cross-harbour passengers until the opening of the MTR and the Eastern Cross Harbour Tunnel. Today ferries services to Sai Wan Ho and North Point are still available.

KMB bus terminus serving the area include:

Elegance Road Bus Terminus (觀塘雅麗道巴士總站) : 95M, 13M

Yue Man Square Bus Terminus (觀塘裕民坊巴士總站): 17, 3D, 89B, 101, 101R

Kwun Tong Ferry Pier Bus Terminus (觀塘碼頭巴士總站) : 11D, 23, 28A, 74A, 74X, 80, 80P, 80X, 83X, 93A, 268C, 269C

Tsui Ping Road Bus Terminus (觀塘翠屏道巴士總站) : 11B, 70X, 89C

Kwun Tong Railway Station (觀塘鐵路站巴士總站) : 16M

New Kwun Tong Station Bus Terminus : 89, 89X

Following some recent redevelopment plans in Kwun Tong, the Yuet Wah Street Bus Terminus is about to be demolished, and the routes originally terminating there will be moved to the New Kwun Tong Station Bus Terminus and Yue Man Square Bus Terminus.