Tsing Yi

Coordinates: 22°20′44″N 114°06′00″E / 22.34556°N 114.10000°E / 22.34556; 114.10000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about an island in Hong Kong. For the MTR station located on the island, see
Green wrasse
.

Tsing Yi
青衣
Tsing Yi, viewed from Shek Lung Kung
Tsing Yi is located in Hong Kong
Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi
Location within Hong Kong
Geography
LocationCentral New Territories
Area10.69 km2 (4.13 sq mi)
Length5.2 km (3.23 mi)
Width4.5 km (2.8 mi)
Highest elevation334 m (1096 ft)
Highest pointTsing Yi Peak (Sam Chi Heung)
Administration
DistrictsKwai Tsing District
Demographics
Population191,500
Tsing Yi
Hanyu Pinyin
Qīngyī
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationChīngyī
JyutpingCing1ji1

Tsing Yi, (Chinese: 青衣; pinyin: Qīngyī) sometimes referred to as Tsing Yi Island, is an island in the urban area of Hong Kong, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island and south of Tsuen Wan. With an area of 10.69 km2 (4.13 sq mi), the island has been extended drastically by reclamation along almost all its natural shore and the annexation of Nga Ying Chau (牙鷹洲) and Chau Tsai. Three major bays or harbours, Tsing Yi Lagoon, Mun Tsai Tong and Tsing Yi Bay (青衣灣) in the northeast, have been completely reclaimed for new towns.

The island generally is zoned into four

ship building industry. The island is in the northwest of Victoria Harbour and part of its coastline is subject to the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance
.

Etymology

Constituencies in 2003 District Council Election. Tsing Yi Island is the island on the left.
Ching Tai Court, Cheung Fat Estate and Ching Wang Court on the right, Villa Esplanada at the center, Maritime Square and Tsing Yi Bridge (North) on the left
The position of Tsing Yi Island, as Chun Fa Lok (春花落), in the map of Yuet Tai Kei (粵大記) written by Kwok Fei (郭棐) during Ming Dynasty. (Note: The south is on the top of the map.)

Tsing Yi (青衣) literally means "green/ blue/ black clothes", but is also a kind of fish, probably

Tsing Yi Tam Shan
(青衣潭山, Tsing Yi Deep Pool Hill) also appeared on some early Chinese maps.

The island was also known as Chun Fa Lok (春花落) once upon a time, which means the fall of spring flowers, or

Ming Dynasty
named the water near Chun Fa Lok, Chun Fa Yeung (春花洋), which is the ocean of spring flowers. The Ming navy once defeated pirate fleets there.

In some historical sources, Tsing-I Island is used instead of Tsing Yi Island, and Chung-Hue Island instead of Chun Fa Island.

Administration

Tsing Yi Town, together with Kwai Chung Town, is part of Tsuen Wan New Town in the Kwai Tsing District in the New Territories. Although Tsing Yi Island is a de facto outlying island, it is not accordingly included in the Islands District.

Historically, Tsing Yi Island, with Kwai Chung, were usually in the same administration unit as Tsuen Wan because of their proximity and close-knit neighbourhood. Unlike Kwai Chung, however, whose villages are part of Tsuen Wan Rural Committee, Tsing Yi Island has its own, Tsing Yi Rural Committee. The rural committee was politically significant until the establishment of a District Council and Regional Council (now-abolished), and even less significant since the urban population grew much larger than the rural population.

Population

There were about 4,000 people on the island when the British took the New Territories around 1898. In the following one hundred years, the population has grown to nearly 50 times this size; the 2001 Census calculating that the population of the island was 193,432 in 55,478 households. In an estimation in 2007, there are about 200,400 people.[1] It is expected to grow to 203,300 in the near future. Most of the population live in Tsing Yi Town.

Geography

Tsing Yi Island is a hilly island with

Liu To Shan in the north east. Small plain can be found surrounding the former Tsing Yi Lagoon in island northeast. The rocks on the island are mainly granite and were exposed due to extensive housing, industrial and infrastructure construction. Although the island is not fallen in the administration of country park
, most of the hilly area remains green. The Tsing Yi Peak climbs to 334 m (1,096 ft)and is a barrier separating industrial west and residential east.

Climate data for Tsing Yi (1998–2016)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 19.3
(66.7) 		20.2
(68.4) 		22.2
(72.0) 		25.6
(78.1) 		28.5
(83.3) 		30.1
(86.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		31.6
(88.9) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.1
(84.4) 		25.5
(77.9) 		21.2
(70.2) 		26.3
(79.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.0
(60.8) 		17.1
(62.8) 		19.3
(66.7) 		22.9
(73.2) 		26.0
(78.8) 		27.8
(82.0) 		28.6
(83.5) 		28.6
(83.5) 		28.0
(82.4) 		25.7
(78.3) 		22.0
(71.6) 		17.8
(64.0) 		23.3
(73.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.6
(56.5) 		14.9
(58.8) 		17.2
(63.0) 		20.9
(69.6) 		24.0
(75.2) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.4
(79.5) 		25.8
(78.4) 		23.6
(74.5) 		19.7
(67.5) 		15.3
(59.5) 		21.2
(70.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38.0
(1.50) 		25.6
(1.01) 		64.3
(2.53) 		124.4
(4.90) 		312.7
(12.31) 		429.5
(16.91) 		270.7
(10.66) 		302.7
(11.92) 		222.3
(8.75) 		64.2
(2.53) 		28.0
(1.10) 		26.3
(1.04) 		1,908.7
(75.15)
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		67 75 76 80 81 82 79 78 73 67 68 63 73
Source: Hong Kong Observatory[2]

Nature

The hilly area of the island largely remains intact and is designated as a

Hong Kong croton, was found in the woodland beneath the highest peak, Tsing Yi Peak
, on the island.

History

Tsing Yi Promenade in Tsing Yi Town along Rambler Channel
Residential buildings in Tsing Yi
Tsing Yi North Coastal

In the early days, the inhabitants on the island were mostly farmers and fishermen. The major population concentrated in the northeast portion of the island. Farmers grew

Tin Hau, the goddess of mercy and the sea. A Tin Hau Temple
was built on the shore of Tsing Yi Tong. At the birthday of Tin Hau, fishermen of all nearby waters would come to the Temple for celebrations. The temple was white in color and thus people call it Pak Miu (白廟, lit. 'White Temple').

From the 1920s onwards, a Chinese company built

MW oil-fired Tsing Yi Power Station in 1969 at Nam Wan due to its proximity to the oil tank farms. Meanwhile, some small shipbuilding companies opened on Tsing Yi, and remain on the north side of the island. In the 1970s, six large-scale companies on the island collectively built the Tsing Yi Bridge to connect Tsing Yi Town and Kwai Chung Town over the Rambler Channel. The bridge was soon transferred to the Hong Kong Government
, remaining the sole road connection to the island for more than ten years. Several industrial buildings for light industries were constructed beside the bridge afterward. Several dockyards moved to the west shore of the island at the end of the 1970s.

During the 1950s,

synonymous
with nudism in Hong Kong.

After the establishment of the Tsing Yi Bridge, the Hong Kong government commenced an extensive

Container Terminal 9
was on the government's agenda.

Later on, the tenor of town development shifted northward. Two fisherman harbours, Tsing Yi Tong and

Ching Wah Court was built adjoining to Cheung Hong Estate. At the same time, Tsing Yi Bridge was seriously overburdened and its structure was unable to cope with increasing traffic. There was only a one-way road in each direction on the bridge. Traffic congestion became the burning problem in the community, and subsequently fueled protest. Finally, Tsing Yi North Bridge, a connection to Tsuen Wan
town was built to ease off the congestion, as well as to accommodate the local residential population boom.

Clusters of highrise residential blocks in Tsing Yi Town

Tsing Yi was continually under further development and

Cheung Hang Estate
were constructed.

The final decision to relocate

Cheung Wang Estate were completed. The final part of reclaimed land near the shore had been laid waste for almost a decade until Tsing Yi Promenade
was built in 2004. Local Hong Kong cultural pursuits of Chinese music and dancing, walking and Chinese exercise are in evidence in most evenings.

From 2000 to 2004, Container Terminal 9 was built on the reclaimed southwest shore of the island, together with resident blocks, Rambler Crest. Nearby, and well within sight of Central. Victoria, a controversial new dioxin burning plant was also put into operation during 2004, arousing much concern for the residents of Tsing Yi and Hong Kong island.

Housing estates and villages

Main article: Public housing estates on Tsing Yi Island

Public housing

Name Type Inaug. No Blocks No Units Remained for Rent Associated developments
Cheung Ching Estate 長青邨 Public 1977 8 4,905
Cheung Fat Estate 長發邨 Public 1989 4 2,067 Cheung Fat Estate Shopping Centre
Cheung Hang Estate 長亨邨 Public 1990 6 4,689
Cheung Hong Estate 長康邨 Public 1979 13 8,100
Cheung On Estate 長安邨 Semi-Private 1988 10 7,338 Cheung On Bus Terminal
Cheung Wang Estate 長宏邨 Public 2001 7 4,273
Easeful Court 青逸軒 Public 2003 2 510
Tsing Yi Estate 青衣邨 Public 1986 4 930

HOS/PSPS/Sandwich Class Scheme housing

Name Type Inaug. No Blocks No Units Associated developments
Ching Nga Court 青雅苑 HOS 1989 1 816
Ching Shing Court
 青盛苑 HOS 1985 1 800
Ching Tai Court 青泰苑 HOS 1988 7 2,180
Ching Wah Court
 青華苑 HOS 1986 6 2,460
Ching Wang Court 青宏苑 HOS 2001 2 576
Serene Garden 海悅花園 PSPS 1992 3 840
Tivoli Garden
 宏福花園 Sandwich 1995 4 1024
Greenview Villa 綠悠雅苑 MHPP 2015 3 988
Ching Chun Court 青俊苑 HOS 2017 2 465

Private housing

Name Type Inaug. No Blocks No Units Associated developments Developer
Broadview Garden 偉景花園 Semi-Private 7 1776 HK Housing Society
Grand Horizon 海欣花園 Private 2000 5 1,432 Sun Hung Kai
Greenfield Garden 翠怡花園 Private 1989 11 3,216 Mall Sun Hung Kai
Mayfair Gardens 美景花園 Private 1977 8 1912 Sun Hung Kai
Mount Haven 曉峰園 Private 1999 5 816 Sun Hung Kai
Rambler Crest 藍澄灣 Private 5 1560 Mall and hotels Hutchison Whampoa
Villa Esplanada 灝景灣 Private 1997 10 2824 Consortium
Tierra Verde 盈翠半島 Private 12 3700 Maritime Square, Tsing Yi MTR MTR Corp, Hutchison
Tsing Yi Garden 青怡花園 Private 1986 7 1,520 podium arcade Cheung Kong

Villages

Hotels

There are three hotels in Tsing Yi Town, at the east of Tsing Yi Island, facing the marvellous view of Rambler Channel and the container terminals. They are:

  • Mexan Harbour Hotel
    ,
  • Rambler Garden Hotel
    and
  • Rambler Oasis Hotel
    .

Transport

Tsing Yi Island is a transportation hub in Hong Kong.

Bridges

Eight bridges connect to the island.

Within the island:

Tunnels

Railway

Tsing Yi station, at the northeastern part of Tsing Yi Island, in Tsing Yi Town, is served by MTR Tung Chung line and Airport Express. It is also the only rail station on the island.

Bus transport

Tsing Yi is served by an extensive bus network, with routes terminating at different parts of Hong Kong.

There are 9

bus termini
on the island:

  • Cheung Ching (長青)
  • Cheung Hang (長亨)
  • Cheung Hong (長康)
  • Cheung On (長安)
  • Cheung Wang (長宏), formerly known as "Tsing Yan" (青欣)
  • Mayfair Gardens (美景花園)
  • Tsing Yi station (青衣站)
  • Tsing Yi Estate (青衣邨)
  • Tsing Yi Ferry (青衣碼頭)

Pier

Before the completion of Tsing Yi Bridge,

waterfront near Greenfield Garden
.

Hovercraft service between Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Central was provided by the former

Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry
took over the route and operated it.

All ferry services ceased with rapid development of road and rail transport, especially MTR Tung Chung line with its station just a few hundred metres away from the ferry pier. It no longer takes residents to Tsuen Wan and Central. The pier is now open to the public, and continues to be used as a drop-off point for fishermen and tourists, and as a mooring site for government boats.

Religious buildings

Education

In the early days, education on the Tsing Yi Island was mostly private. The first public school on the island is Tsing Yi Public School, a primary school founded by villagers and businessmen on the island. In the post-World War II era, Hong Kong Government provides 9-year free education to all children from primary one to secondary three. The public school is then mainly funded by the government. Another school for the children of fishermen, Tsing Yi Fishermen's Children's Primary School, was founded by Fish Marketing Organisation. In 1977, Cheung Ching Estate, the first public housing estates on the island, marked the beginning of the new town on the island. To accommodate new schooling children, three primary schools and Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College, the first secondary school on the island, were built with the estate. More schools were erected when new estates were completed. In 1999, a post-secondary college, Hong Kong Technical College (Tsing Yi), was completed and provides vocational training for all adults in Hong Kong. In the 2000s, the number of schooling children began to drop and the several schools are facing the fatal fate.

All of Tsing Yi is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 66. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money); no government schools are in this net.[3]

Numerous schools are founded on Tsing Yi Island, namely:

Primary schools

Secondary schools

Special schools

Institute of Vocational Education

  • Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi)

Medical services

The

Cheung Hong Estate and another is Tsing Yi Town Clinic
near Tsing Yi Garden. There is also one maternal and child health centre, Tsing Yi Maternal and Child Health Centre, on the island. It is just next to Tsing Yi Cheung Hong Clinic.

There is at least one private clinic in each housing estate.

In town planning, Tsing Yi Hospital was supposed to be built near

Cheung Hang Estate but the plan was put off owing to financial difficulty of Hospital Authority
.

Shopping

All public and private housing estates on the island have their own

Cheung Fat Shopping Centre, by Hong Kong Housing Authority was once the largest shopping centre and was later supplanted by MTR Corporation's Maritime Square
, as the shopping focus of the island.

Shipbuilding

Tsing Yi is home to Hong Kong United Dockyard, located on the west side since 1980.

Leisure facilities

People practise

Cheung Ching Estate
.

See also

References

  1. ^ District Council Election 2007 – Summary of Constituency Areas of District Council Election (Kwai Tsing) Archived 22 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. The sum of the population in constituency area S18 to S28
  2. ^ "Monthly Means of Meteorological Elements for Tsing Yi, 1998–2016". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. ^ "POA School Net 66" (PDF). Education Bureau. Retrieved 12 September 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsing Yi.
Look up Tsing Yi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

22°20′44″N 114°06′00″E / 22.34556°N 114.10000°E / 22.34556; 114.10000

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