San Po Kong
Encyclopedia
San Po Kong is an area in New Kowloon
in Hong Kong
. South of Wong Tai Sin
and Diamond Hill
, and north of the former Kai Tak International Airport, the area is bounded by Choi Hung Road and Prince Edward Road
. San Po Kong is largely industrial and partly residential. Administratively, it belongs to Wong Tai Sin District
.
(林). Po is a Chinese character
taken from Po Tin
, the Lam family's original home in Fujian
Province. The village, which was situated in the area of the present-day Wong Tai Sin Police Station, was long ago demolished for development, leaving only its name in Po Kong Village Road. The Lam family also founded the historic Tin Hau temple
in Joss House Bay
. In the past, Kowloon Bay
was a major field producing salt
. The Lam family was probably involved in the salt business.
Another village in the area, Sha Tei Yuen (沙地園) or Sha Ti Un, was located in present-day Rhythm Garden.
Before the development of Kai Tak Airport
, most of the area was cultivated
, drawing on rich soil of the many small river estuaries
, fed by run-off from the hills to the north of Kowloon Bay.
, part of the current Choi Hung Road, and a nullah
were constructed around the airport. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
, more than 20 villages surrounding San Po Kong were demolished for further expansion of the airport.
In May 1967, a labour dispute in a factory making artificial flowers ignited the 1967 riots, which lasted until October. During that period, public bus services were suspended, forcing workers from other areas to commute on foot.
In the 1980s, many of the manufacturing businesses in San Po Kong relocated to China
, and the industrial buildings were turned into offices and godowns
.
New Kowloon
New Kowloon is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, bounded in the south by Boundary Street, and in the north by the ranges of the Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Tate's Cairn and Kowloon Peak...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. South of Wong Tai Sin
Wong Tai Sin, Hong Kong
Wong Tai Sin is an area in Wong Tai Sin District, New Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area was named after the Wong Tai Sin Temple.Wong Tai Sin is surrounded by northeast Tsz Wan Shan, east Diamond Hill, south San Po Kong, south west Tung Tau and west Wang Tai Hom...
and Diamond Hill
Diamond Hill
Diamond Hill is a hill in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The name also refers to the area on or adjacent to the hill. It is surrounded by Ngau Chi Wan, San Po Kong, Wong Tai Sin and Tsz Wan Shan. Its northeast is limited by the ridge. It is principally a residential district.-Etymology:Contrary to its name,...
, and north of the former Kai Tak International Airport, the area is bounded by Choi Hung Road and Prince Edward Road
Prince Edward Road
Prince Edward Road East and Prince Edward Road West are roads in Kowloon, Hong Kong, going in an east-west direction and linking Tai Kok Tsui, Mong Kok, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon City and San Po Kong ....
. San Po Kong is largely industrial and partly residential. Administratively, it belongs to Wong Tai Sin District
Wong Tai Sin District
Wong Tai Sin District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong, and is the only landlocked district of the city. It is located in Kowloon and has a population of 444,630...
.
Village
San Po Kong in Cantonese means new Po Kong. It became known as San Po Kong from the industrial period. Po Kong (蒲崗) is a small hill where a Hokkienese village, Po Kong Village (蒲崗村), was founded south by a family called LamLin (surname)
Lín Lin is the second most common surname in Taiwan at 9% of the population, second only to Chen. In mainland China , Lin is generally less common.-Name origin:...
(林). Po is a Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
taken from Po Tin
Putian
Putian is a prefecture-level city in eastern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders Fuzhou City to the north, Quanzhou City to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east.-Administration:...
, the Lam family's original home in Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province. The village, which was situated in the area of the present-day Wong Tai Sin Police Station, was long ago demolished for development, leaving only its name in Po Kong Village Road. The Lam family also founded the historic Tin Hau temple
Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong
Over 70 temples are dedicated to Tin Hau in Hong Kong. They include:* Tin Hau temple, located at 10 Tin Hau Temple Road, Causeway Bay, east of Victoria Park, in Eastern District, on Hong Kong Island. It is a declared monument. The temple has given its name to the MTR station serving it .* The Tin...
in Joss House Bay
Joss House Bay
Joss House Bay, also known as Tai Miu Wan indigenously, is near the south end of Clear Water Bay Peninsula in Hong Kong....
. In the past, Kowloon Bay
Kowloon Bay
Kowloon Bay is a bay located at the east of the Kowloon Peninsula and north of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is the eastern portion of Victoria Harbour, between Hung Hom and Lei Yue Mun...
was a major field producing salt
Edible salt
Salt, also known as table salt, or rock salt, is a mineral that is composed primarily of sodium chloride , a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of ionic salts. It is essential for animal life in small quantities, but is harmful to animals and plants in excess...
. The Lam family was probably involved in the salt business.
Another village in the area, Sha Tei Yuen (沙地園) or Sha Ti Un, was located in present-day Rhythm Garden.
Before the development of Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. It was officially known as the Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, when it was closed and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, 30 km to the west...
, most of the area was cultivated
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
, drawing on rich soil of the many small river estuaries
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, fed by run-off from the hills to the north of Kowloon Bay.
Airport
In 1916, the area south of present-day San Po Kong was reclaimed by Ho Kai and Au Tak for a garden estate. The reclamation was completed in two phases in 1920 and 1927. The reclaimed area became known as Kai Tak. The company lacked the capital to complete the project and left part the land unused. The Hong Kong Government decided to buy back the land for the Royal Air Force and a future Kai Tak Aerodrome. In late 1930s, the airport was significantly expanded to take up the whole of San Po Kong. Clear Water Bay RoadClear Water Bay Road
Clear Water Bay Road is a major road from a complex interchange in Ngau Chi Wan to a dead end in Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung. It also is a route to Sai Kung Town and Tseung Kwan O via Hang Hau Road and Hiram's Highway respectively...
, part of the current Choi Hung Road, and a nullah
Kai Tak Nullah
The Kai Tak Nullah collects water from the rivers and streams flowing from the hills in northern New Kowloon. It empties into the narrow channel leading into the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter. Part of the nullah is covered.-See also:...
were constructed around the airport. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
, more than 20 villages surrounding San Po Kong were demolished for further expansion of the airport.
Industrial area
In 1958, the airport was shifted south, out of San Po Kong and into Kowloon Bay. Prince Edward Road East was completed at around this time. San Po Kong became an industrial area, in many high-rise buildings. The government also established one or more factory estates for small manufacturing businesses.In May 1967, a labour dispute in a factory making artificial flowers ignited the 1967 riots, which lasted until October. During that period, public bus services were suspended, forcing workers from other areas to commute on foot.
In the 1980s, many of the manufacturing businesses in San Po Kong relocated to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and the industrial buildings were turned into offices and godowns
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
.