SHEK TONG TSUI

'Shek Tong Tsui' ( or 石塘咀, lit. ''Stone Pond Mouth'') is a town in Sai Wan on the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it belongs to Central and Western District.

Contents

Boundary

History

Transport

Main Roads

Constituency

External link and reference

Boundary

This district is bounded to the east by Ka On Street, north by the Victoria Harbour, south by Pokfulam Road and the Third Street, west by the intersection of Queen's Road West and Belcher's Street^[1]. The district to the east is Sai Ying Pun and to the west is Kennedy Town. The area to the south is the slopes of Victoria Peak and High West.

History

Its name is derived from the nearby old quarry, Shek Tong (石塘) in Cantonese language, (located around the Hill Road and Belcher Garden) used by the Hakka people since the 17th century while Tsui (嘴) indicates it was a headlands.
Shek Tong Tsui Market building was started in 1875. The area was settled in 1880. In the early 1900s, the Hong Kong Island's red light district was moved from Possession Point in Sheung Wan to this area. The place thus flourished and was in its golden period. Chinese affluents in Hong Kong came to Shek Tong Tsui for entertainment. Theatres for Cantonese opera and Cantonese restaurants were founded in the area. It was known locally in Cantonese word, 塘西風月 (tong sai fung yuet). Brothels in this area inspired numerous novels and Hong Kong films, most notably, ''Rouge ''(1987) which starred Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung. This lasted until the ban of prostitution by Hong Kong Government in 1935. After the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong, Japanese military government relocated all Chinese brothels to the area. Although there was 500 brothels in the area of the time, the lives under Japanese rule in war time were too harsh to enjoy.

Transport

The tram terminus near Whitty Street is one of the termini of Hong Kong Tramways. Bus and minibus services are also available along the main streets. The West Island Line, an extension of the existing MTR Island Line, will have a station near this area.

Main Roads

The major Roads on Shek Tong Shui are the western ends of Des Voeux Road West and Queen's Road West, Hill Road and part of Pok Fu Lam Road. Connaught Road West is the major access road. Hill road is a double decker road taking traffic down hill from Pok Fu Lam Road to Connaught Road east bound lanes.
There are also a number of smaller terraces, including Yat Fu Lane, Woo Hop Street, Clarence Terrace, Po Tuck Street and South Lane.

Constituency

A Constituency in the Central and Western District is called Shek Tong Shui. This elects one representative in the district council elections. This electorate extends as far as Water Street and intrudes into Sai Ying Pun. The major housing developments in the electorate are: Chong Yip Centre, Dragonfair Garden, Elegant Garden, Kong Chian Tower, Kwan Yick Building Phase I, Wah Ming Centre. The population estimate in 2006 was 16597. Chan Choi Hi was elected in 1999, and 2003.
The Belcher constituency also covers part of Shek Tong Tsui south of Queens Road West. Yeung Sui Yin was elected in 2003. Wong Chit Man was elected in 1999.

External link and reference

1. http://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/distco/2007dc/dc2007a.pdf