The Tung Chung River is a river on Lantau Island , Hong Kong. It is designated by the governmental Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as one of the "Ecologically Important Streams" within the territory. It is 4.31 km in length.
60-466: 83.2% Chinese 6.7% South Asian Tung Chung , meaning " eastern stream ", is an area on the northwestern coast of Lantau Island , Hong Kong . One of the most recent new towns , it was formerly a rural fishing village beside Tung Chung Bay , and along the delta and lower courses of Tung Chung River and Ma Wan Chung in the north-western coast of Lantau Island. The area was once an important defence stronghold against pirates and foreign military during
120-571: A cement base and the enclosures are made of granite blocks, measuring 70 by 80 meters. Three arched gateways, each engraved with a Chinese inscription, are spaced along the walls. Tung Chung Fort itself went through several transformations. It was first used as a police station and then as a secondary school. Now, it is the base for the Rural Committee Office and the Tung Chung Public School. Hau Wong Temple ,
180-543: A cinema and entertainment facilities centered on the Citygate development; as well as transportation to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island . The Tung Chung Citygate Outlets have many factory outlets of high-end brands and other brands as well as offering huge discounts. Fu Tung Shopping Centre, Yat Tung Shopping Centre, and Citygate are the three shopping centres in Tung Chung thus far. Further shopping malls are expected at
240-451: A city". The estate of 6,200 flats, constructed on a site of 21 acres (85,000 m ) and capable of housing 46,000 people, offered a self-contained environment complete with commercial amenities ranging from markets and barber shops to banks. This represented an innovation in that the commercial premises would serve the local estate, while paying a rent determined by public tender. Banks, restaurants, and other large premises would be let out on
300-403: A five-year contract, competing on a monthly rental offered, while tenants for smaller premises would compete on premium paid based on fixed monthly rentals. Unlike the generations of housing estates which preceded it, there would be designated market stalls and cooked-food stalls. Street vendors would be no longer be tolerated. In 1980, the government launched the first batch of public housing in
360-420: A hill slope facing the sea near Tung Chung pier in 1980. An L-shaped wall with a platform at the corner, probably for gun emplacements, was revealed after clearing the dense undergrowth. Lo Hon Monastery [ zh ] , at Shek Mun Kap . Built by lay Buddhists in 1974, it occupies the site of a grotto named Lo Hon Cavern where a hermit from Guangdong practiced Buddhism in 1926. Tung Chung serves as
420-556: A major fire in Shek Kip Mei destroyed the makeshift homes of refugees from Mainland China , leaving more than 50,000 people homeless. After the fire, and facing a surge of immigrant population, then governor Alexander Grantham launched a public housing program to introduce the idea of "multi-storey building" for the immigrant population living there, thus commencing a programme of mass public housing, providing affordable homes for those on low incomes. Some scholars have argued that
480-606: A member of the Democratic Party stated that without increasing land supply, the government would continue to fall short of its target. In December 2020, Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan announced that the next target would be 430,000 total units over the next 10 years, down from the 450,000 target specified in 2018. This means an annual target of 43,000 total units, with the same 70% public and 30% private target ratio. In July 2021, Adam Kwok Kai-fai, an executive of Sun Hung Kai Properties , suggested that
540-572: A new town, but its heritage can be seen in the form of old fishing villages. They show another façade of Tung Chung, of a village before the development of the airport and the town. In the 1990s, Tung Chung was developed as a new town . This was undertaken as part of the Airport Core Programme , a package of development and infrastructure projects surrounding the relocation of Hong Kong's international airport from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok , adjacent to Tung Chung. Tung Chung New Town
600-528: A number of villages and local scenery. This, however is a strenuous four-hour trek. An easier and well-wooded walk with picnic and barbecue sites also link Shui Hau to Tung Chung Road. Turning south from Tung Chung Road, visitors can get to the Cheung Sha beaches . Located on a 4,877 m site near Tung Chung, the Buddhist Youth Camp was built in 1979 at a cost of HK$ 3 million, the camp
660-433: A population of about 22,000. The remaining development in Tung Chung is planned to be implemented as Phases 3 and 4 and to be completed in a foreseeable future. Currently, Tung Chung is primarily residential, but an office block and hotel have already been completed. It is envisaged that in the future, other commercial projects will be developed in Tung Chung to support the growing population. Tung Chung New Town (Phase 1)
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#1732773069709720-538: A public library opened, behind Citygate Outlets shopping center. In April 2011, a swimming pool opened near the Ngong Ping cable car. In the future, an indoor games hall and community centre are planned for Tung Chung. Additionally, the Hong Kong Disneyland development at Penny's Bay will provide further recreational opportunities. Tung Chung Town Centre features a number of shops, restaurants,
780-512: A tiered-roof structure built in 1765, is dedicated to Yeung Hau , a loyal court official of the Song dynasty who died with its last emperor . And this temple was a place for training soldiers in the Qing dynasty. There is a stele founded in 1777, which is an important product of culture for researches about the Qing dynasty. Recently renovated, the temple features lavish interior decorations. The temple
840-738: Is a major component of housing in Hong Kong , with nearly half of the population now residing in some form of public housing. The public housing policy dates to 1954, after a fire in Shek Kip Mei destroyed thousands of shanty homes and prompted the government to begin constructing homes for the poor. Public housing is mainly built by the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society . Rents and prices are significantly lower than those for private housing and are heavily subsidised by
900-507: Is a newer integrated development consisting of twenty 40-story tower blocks towards the south of the town center, near the fishing village in Tung Chung Bay , complete with kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, shopping mall, car park, and transport interchange. Ying Tung Estate was built in 2018 near Ying Tung Road, which consists of four blocks: Ying Chui House, Ying Yuet House, Ying Hei House and Ying Fuk House. Villages in
960-471: Is an important habitat for birds , including thrushes and warblers (Hopkin, pers. comm.). Eagle owls, a species highly sensitive to any disturbance around their nesting sites, breed here (Wilson, pers. comm.). The locally rare Hainan blue flycatcher probably breeds here (Chalmers, pers. comm.). The largest population of the reptile tokay gecko , Gekko gecko , occurs in the cliffs and boulder crevices in upper Tung Chung Valley (Lau, pers. comm.). The woods in
1020-615: Is over 200 years old. The row of miniature human figures on the eaves looks still very real to life. On the 18th of the eighth month in the lunar calendar every year, there are activities such as Chinese operas and gatherings in the open area of the temple, to celebrate the birthday of Hau Wong. The temple is twenty minutes walking distance from the train station. A Tin Hau Temple is located in Chek Lap Kok New Village , Wong Lung Hang Road, Tung Chung. The temple
1080-535: Is run by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association . Facilities available at the camp include table tennis, chess, books and television, playground for basketball, badminton, archery, barbecue and a swimming pool. In a move to encourage green transport, on the model of most of the new towns , cycle tracks run throughout the town, and are widely used. Most of the private estates provides full clubhouse facilities for their residents. In October 2010,
1140-575: Is the MTR Tung Chung Station Development Package Three. It was jointly developed by Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited , Hutchison Whampoa Limited and the MTR Corporation. It is about 67,900 m with both residential and commercial buildings. The Visionary was built by Nan Fung Group, consisting of 9 buildings with 34/35 floors each, 3 duplexes, and 6 houses. It is the first estate to be built on
1200-487: Is the first private residential estate completed in Tung Chung. It is jointly developed by five local developers including Hang Lung Development Co. Ltd., Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd. , New World Development Co. Ltd. , Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. , Swire Properties and with the MTR Corporation . Seaview Crescent , developed by the same developers as Tung Chung Crescent, consists of four tower blocks in
1260-662: Is the newly developed core living area around Tung Chung. The development is one of the ten parts of the Hong Kong Airport Core Programme. The first phase of public housing development was completed in late 1997 and can accommodate up to 15,000 people. Another 5,000 people are housed in the private housing development completed in 1998. Tung Chung Crescent is the MTR Tung Chung Station Development Package One together with Seaview Crescent and Citygate. It
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#17327730697091320-597: The Home Ownership Scheme , thereby allowing low-income families to own their homes for the first time. A new town to be constructed on 240 hectares of reclaimed fishponds and wetland was conceived in 1987 to house 140,000 people. Since Tin Shui Wai was entirely a virgin development, it was conceived with wider walkways and larger open areas when compared to other urban developments in Hong Kong. A 1988 crime survey reported that crime rates were lower in
1380-741: The Ming and the Qing dynasties. Developed as part of the Airport Core Programme , the North Lantau New Town is the first new town on an outlying island of Hong Kong, with the first phases built on reclaimed land to the north, east and northeast of the original Tung Chung Town. Administratively, Tung Chung is part of Islands District . Since the Song dynasty between 960 and 1279 AD, there have been people living in Tung Chung. At that time, they lived on fishing and agriculture. Crabs, fishes and crops were their main productions. This place
1440-469: The 10 year targets did not have accountability, and that officials should set up a committee to oversee progress towards meeting the 10 year targets, with a government official held accountable if the targets were not met. Public housing estates in Hong Kong may be rented or sold under various government subsidy programmes, and are generally subject to a range of restrictions and eligibility requirements. They also vary in scale, and are built and managed under
1500-403: The 10 years after 2018, with 315,000 to be public, and 135,000 to be private. SCMP noted that these were only targets, and that "Since 2014, the government has never hit its target of building enough public flats. The public housing units provided in the past four years only accounted for 47 per cent of the actual number of homes built, falling short of the 60 per cent target." Additionally,
1560-480: The Tung Chung area include: Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817, when the Qing Government was alarmed by the rampant piracy of Cheung Po Tsai (though Cheung himself had been captured seven years earlier) and decided to intervene and thwart the opium trade and defend the coast from pirates. The Fort was declared a monument in 1979. There are 6 old muzzle-loading cannons (still intact), each resting on
1620-416: The average waiting time to 3 years by the year 2005. The average waiting time for general applicants was 5.6 years. As of July 2021, the average waiting time had increased to 5.8 years, the longest average waiting time in more than 20 years, with more than 253,000 applicants on the waiting list. Frank Chan , Secretary for Transport and Housing, said that it might take up to 20 years to substantially reduce
1680-402: The basic design of H-shape. In those early days, housing units were little more than small cubicles, and the original plan was to allocate 24 square feet (2.2 m ) per adult and half that for each child under 12. However, they were in reality often occupied by more than one family, due to the extreme shortage of available housing. Facilities and sanitation were rudimentary and communal, like
1740-565: The bath rooms and laundry areas, were located in the cross bar of the "H", linked the residential wings on two sides. Rents were pitched at between HK$ 10 and 14, without caps on income. That year, the Resettlement Department was formed, as was the first Housing Authority (sometimes referred to as "former Housing Authority"), out of the Urban Council , through enactment of the 1954 Housing Ordinance. The demolition of
1800-607: The blocks of the public housing estates, including: According to the Cooperate Profile from Hong Kong Housing Authority in September 2014 and Hong Kong Housing Society info bank in June 2015: The Government updated the long term housing supply target to 480 000 units for the ten-year period from 2015/16 to 2024/25. Among them, the target for PRH is 200 000 flats while that for subsidised sale flats (mainly HOS flats)
1860-440: The boulders were brought to Penny's Bay to create an artificial lake as part of the development of the adjacent Hong Kong Disneyland Resort . The government jailed the chairman of village interest group Tung Chung Rural Committee along with several others for this illegal activity. The government has touted this river as a potential eco-tourism area, but in a recent survey in 2021, over 90 per cent of respondents thought that
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1920-600: The buildings of Shek Kip Mei Estate was started from 2007, and has now been extensively redeveloped. Today, all H-shaped resettlement blocks have had to be demolished, with only the Mei Ho House still standing. In 1961, the "low-cost housing" scheme was introduced through the construction of 62,380 flats (capable of housing 363,000 people with monthly household incomes of no more than HK$ 600) in 18 estates, while HA accommodation would be available to those whose household incomes were between $ 900 and $ 1500. In 1963, due to
1980-453: The demand of citizens. This has led to many citizens who are unable to afford private housing to seek accommodation in subdivided flats and bedspace apartments . As at end-September 2020, there were about 156 400 general applications for PRH, and about 103 600 non-elderly one-person applications under the Quota and Points System. In 1998, the government under Tung Chee-hwa pledged to reduce
2040-505: The first housing developments. This phase of development provided about 20,000 people in the district to support the airport at Chek Lap Kok . Phase 2 of Tung Chung development was also completed. About 350,000 square metres of land was reclaimed east of the Phase 1 development area. Roads and drainage works to serve this reclaimed land were completed in May 2000. Land formation of 270,000 m for
2100-604: The gateway for those wishing to explore Ngong Ping 's Big Buddha , one of the world's largest seated Buddha statues, as well as Po Lin Monastery . Ngong Ping can be reached by: Tung Chung is surrounded by two large country parks , cover an area of Lantau Island as large as Hong Kong Island: The Lantau North and Lantau South Country Parks. The presence of mangroves and freshwater streams in Tung Chung provides excellent ecologically valuable habitats for freshwater fish species, dragonflies and rare amphibians . However,
2160-513: The government has been overstating the role of the fire in the history of public housing in Hong Kong. For example, Faure argues that Grantham was concerned with introducing subsidised housing as early as 1949, but encountered opposition from Chinese members of the Legislative Council. The Shek Kip Mei Estate , ready for occupation in 1954, was the first tangible manifestation of this policy. These resettlement blocks were built in
2220-530: The government should "conserve the river and its estuary by restoring damaged areas, setting up conservation areas and restricting the number of tourists", according to a local media outlet. Public housing in Hong Kong Public housing in Hong Kong is a set of mass housing programmes through which the Government of Hong Kong provides affordable housing for lower-income residents. It
2280-752: The government, with revenues partially recovered from sources such as rents and charges collected from car parks and shops within or near the residences. Many public housing estates are built in the new towns of the New Territories , but urban expansion has left some older estates deep in central urban areas. They are found in every district of Hong Kong except in Wan Chai District . The vast majority of public housing are provided in high-rise buildings , and recent blocks usually comprise 40 or more storeys . The government has in recent years begun to prioritise economic benefit rather than meeting
2340-485: The ground floor could reach the 8th and the 13th floors. In 1973, the Government of Hong Kong announced a ten-year plan for the public provision of housing, to provide everyone in Hong Kong with permanent, self-contained housing with a target of housing. The objective was to provide 1.8 million people with "satisfactory accommodation". The Government saw as its responsibility to provide accessible housing for "the poor" – defined as those whose monthly household income
2400-405: The high ground, the stream resembles a yellow dragon ready to take off for heaven when it and its feeders are flooded with torrential muddy water, with Wong-Lung as the trunk and the feeders its limbs. The spectacular Tung Lung Stream includes what appear as continuous waterfalls of more than 700 feet (213 m). Tung Lung Stream is rich in varieties of rare local wild plants and animals, especially in
2460-660: The mall contains a special fountain which performs a musical show regularly. Tung Chung River According to the University of Hong Kong , the Tung Chung River is home to more than 20 species of fish, including the Beijiang Thick-lipped Bard ( Acrossocheilus beijiangensis ), a species of conservation concern internationally. Rare tree species including those in the genera of Exbucklandia , Magnolia and Illicium are also present in
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2520-767: The new developments in Caribbean Coast . Tung Chung is 12 minutes from Tsing Yi and Kwai Tsing , where a much wider variety of shopping options are available. Citygate Outlets is at the heart of this new town, developed in conjunction with the Tung Chung MTR station and bus terminus, thus providing a focal point to the town. Citygate, developed in the glass and steel style of the Hong Kong International Airport, contains 500,000 square feet (46,000 m) of shopping, entertainment, and food outlets spread across five floors. A square outside
2580-454: The primeval forest at an upper stream, among them the unique Hong Kong newts ( Paramesotriton hongkongensis ) as well as several species of wild orchids . Tung Chung River is the only known Hong Kong site for the rare fish , Acrossocheilus (Lissolichthys) wenchowensis beijiangensis (北江光唇魚) and one of only two sites on Lantau where the locally rare crested kingfisher , Megaceryle lugubris , has been recorded. The upper Tung Chung Valley
2640-445: The public housing estates of Hong Kong than in private housing areas. The government sets a Long Term Housing Strategy every year, which plans housing units for the next 10 years. In 2014, the government's target for public and subsidized flats vs private housing units was set at 60% and 40%. In 2018, the target was changed to 70% public and 30% private. Under that ratio, the government projected 450,000 total flats to be developed in
2700-446: The rapid escalation of squatter numbers, squatters' eligibility for public housing was frozen, and future squatter areas came under licensing per the 1964 White Paper. The settlements of these squatters on the urban fringe were cleared in order to provide housing and industrial sites. With the formation of this ad hoc resettlement scheme, it later evolved into a policy tool to support the burgeoning manufacturing industry. The Housing Board
2760-400: The reclamation and other civil engineering works in Tung Chung has heavily damaged these habitats and produced irreversible damage to native wildlife and the surrounding environment. Tung Chung Valley is the home of some of the steepest and most primeval mountain streams in Hong Kong. The formation of spectacular waterfalls is facilitated in the presence of the sheer cliffs and deep gorges in
2820-764: The reclamation land of Tung Chung North-east. Century Link developed by the Sun Hung Kai Group, consisting of 2 phases and 6 towers (27 to 29 storeys) with 3 residential blocks (2 storeys). It is the second estate to be built on the reclamation land of Tung Chung North-east after the Visionary. Public (government) housing and Home Ownership Scheme flats also make up a sizeable part of Tung Chung. The first phase of public housing development including five homeownership blocks at Yu Tung Court and three public rental housing blocks at Fu Tung Estate comprising 2,640 homeownership and 1,664 rental units. Yat Tung Estate
2880-625: The remaining Phase 2 areas south of Tung Chung Bay together with the associated infrastructure were completed in February 2001. Upon completion, Phase 2 development will accommodate a population of 67,000. Reclamation works under Phase 3A development commenced in March 1999 and were completed in April 2003. About 260,000 m of land was reclaimed north-east of Phase I development area. The reclamation will provide land for housing developments to accommodate
2940-994: The responsibility of the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society. According to the 2006 census, 3.3 million people or 48.8 percent of the population of Hong Kong lived in rental or subsidised-sale public housing; within that group, 31 percent lived in public rental housing, 17.1 percent lived in Housing Authority subsidised-sale flats and 0.7 percent lived in Housing Society subsidised-sale flats. For 2024 records, see here: 30.5% lived in public rental housing, 15.6% lived in subsidized home ownership housing, and 0.9% lived in temporary housing (Source: < https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/web_table.html?id=130-06603 >). Several designs have been used for
3000-436: The river area. A part of the river catchment at the upper course has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) . In 2003, a 330-metre section of this Ecologically Important Stream near Shek Mun Kap was found damaged by unauthorised excavations. It was later revealed that the boulders illegally excavated from this river were used by a subcontractor to build Hong Kong Disneyland . About 400 tonnes of
3060-505: The saddle at the east of Sunset Peak , but the stream collects water through a large network of feeder streams on both sides of the valley, including the famous Tung-Lung, Pak-Lung, Chong-Lung, and Ngo-Lung Streams, which are known collectively as "The Five Dragons of Tung Chung". Wong Lung Waterfall is located in the Lantau North Country Park . It is named "Wong-Lung" since, during a heavy rainstorm, when we view from
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#17327730697093120-534: The same style of Tung Chung Crescent, though these face the sea and the airport at Chek Lap Kok. Coastal Skyline is the MTR Tung Chung Station Development Package Two. It was jointly developed by HKR International Limited , Hong Leong Holdings Limited and Reco Tung Chung Pte Ltd. and MTR Corporation and consisting of seven residential towers of around 50 stories each, and a number of low-rise flats. Caribbean Coast
3180-420: The upper Tung Chung Valley are reportedly some of the best on Lantau for rare plant species and for butterflies, including the birdwing butterfly which breeds here (Reels, pers. comm.). The Tung O Ancient Trail is a hiking trail that links Tung Chung to the fishing village of Tai O . This trail follows the north-western coast of Lantau Island; providing a view of the runway approach to Chek Lap Kok as well as
3240-643: The valley. Almost all the streams in the area have their name related to Lung (the Chinese word for dragon ) which is the Chinese mythological creature of the waters and the favorite metaphor for the towering waterfalls. As the main branch of the Tung Chung Valley, the deep-set Wong Lung Valley is the home of the Wong Lung Stream (The Yellow Dragon). The mainstream has its source on
3300-488: The waiting time. In the 1920s and 1930s, many Mainland Chinese flooded into Hong Kong, resulting in a serious shortage of housing. Thus, in the Housing Committee Report of 1935, the colonial government proposed to build some low-cost housing for the public to solve this problem. However, as Hong Kong was facing an economic downturn at that time, the proposals were not implemented. On 25 December 1953,
3360-546: Was between HK$ 2,100 (for a family of 3) and HK$ 3,150 (for a family of 10). In 1975, the Government officially opened the Oi Man Estate . The blocks were built in twin-tower layout with two square blocks interlocked together. There were sixteen large and small units on each floor of the block, and each flat with its own kitchen and toilet inside. The housing estate was also built on a concept of "a little town within
3420-545: Was initially built in 1823 at the north east of Chek Lap Kok . It was dismantled in 1991 because of the construction of the new airport , and was rebuilt in 1994 at its present location. It is a Grade I historic building . Tung Chung Battery was one of the two military forts built in 1817 at the foot of the Rocky Lion Hill at Tung Chung according to the Guangdong Annals. Its remains were discovered on
3480-555: Was intended to serve as a supporting community for the new airport. According to the information from the Hong Kong Territory Development Department , Tung Chung is being developed in four phases into a new town with a target population of 250,000 people. The first phase was completed in 1994; infrastructure works was completed in January 1997 in order to tie with the subsequent completion of
3540-591: Was originally called Tung Sai Chung , when Hong Kong was still a group of fishing villages. Tung means east in Cantonese , while Sai means west . At that time, merchandising ships sailed east to the village and west to Macau . Tung Sai Chung is one of five villages of Lantau that were resettled when the coastal restriction of the Great Clearance was lifted in 1669. The other villages are Tai O , Lo Pui O , Shek Pik and Mui Wo . Tung Chung may be
3600-454: Was set up with the role of coordinating between agencies responsible for domestic housing. It made recommendations to have annual evaluations of supply and demand of housing, as well as increasing the minimum standard floor area per person to 35 sq ft (3.3 m ). Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate , built between 1967 and 1970, was among the first group of resettlement estates built with lifts . All blocks were 16-floor high, and lifts from
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