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District Highlights of Sham Shui Po
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Located in the northwestern part of the Kowloon Peninsula and bounded by the Lion Rock Country Park to the north, the East Rail Line of the Mass Transit Railway to the east, Boundary Street to the south, and the waterfront area and Stonecutters Island to the west, Sham Shui Po District covers an area of about 1 047 hectares. The district can be divided into seven areas, namely Mei Foo, Lai Chi Kok, Cheung Sha Wan, Central Sham Shui Po, Shek Kip Mei, Yau Yat Chuen and West Kowloon Reclamation Area. |
Population
Sham Shui Po District was already densely populated back in the 1950s and 1960s. Its population once reached 440 000 in 1986 and is now around 430 000. The district has a relatively low household income on average and its elderly population is comparatively large, and many new arrivals choose to reside temporarily or permanently in the district.
Characteristics of Housing
There are 17 public housing estates, including Shek Kip Mei Estate, Hong Kong's first public rental housing estate built in 1954, and 8 Home Ownership Scheme estates. As for private housing, there is a considerable number of private blocks, built in the 1950s and 1960s, along Cheung Sha Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok Road and Tai Po Road. Most of them are five to seven-storey buildings. Among the private housing developments in the district, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Yau Yat Tsuen have the most marked features. Mei Foo Sun Chuen, built in 1968, is Hong Kong's first large-scale private housing estate comprising eight phases with 60 000 residents living in a total of 99 blocks; whereas Yau Yat Tsuen is a low density residential area, adding variety to the district.
Industrial and Commercial Development
Sham Shui Po District is probably Hong Kong's earliest industrial and commercial centre. Wholesale and retail businesses of mainly textile and clothing, apparels, piece goods and non-staple food are concentrated in Cheung Sha Wan and Lai Chi Kok. With the relocation of industrial activities to the Mainland, factories in the district have been changed to commercial, exhibition and logistics purposes, bringing vitality to the early developed area. Sham Shui Po District is also a distribution centre for computer and electronic goods, and its computer shopping centres are famous to all residents and visitors.
Community Facilities
The district has a highly-developed transport network. Public transport routes as well as Mass Transit Railway, Airport Railway and highway networks running through the district provide people with convenient means to travel around the territory. There are 2 hospitals, 1 publicly-funded university (City University of Hong Kong), around 60 primary and secondary schools, 3 community centres (Cheung Sha Wan, Tai Hang Tung, Nam Cheong) and 5 community halls (Lai Kok, Pak Tin, Shek Kip Mei, Lai Chi Kok, Mei Foo). Besides, the district has 6 sports centres, 3 public swimming pools, 1 sports ground, 7 major parks, 1 pet garden, 5 libraries and 5 mobile library stops in the district.
Though Sham Shui Po is an old district, its long history has contributed to its relatively well established development and social network. As the construction works of a number of redevelopment projects commence in succession, the living environment of the district will no doubt be further improved.
Famous Visitor Spots in Sham Shui Po
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Opening Hours of the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum |
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Dragon Centre |
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Festival Walk |
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Apliu Street |
Opening Hours of Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre
Monday to Sunday: 10:00a.m. - 10:00p.m. (except Chinese New Year holidays)