Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse
Encyclopedia
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
上水屠房) is a slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
situated in the outer area of Sheung Shui
Sheung Shui
Sheung Shui is an area in New Territories, Hong Kong. Sheung Shui Town, a part of this area, is part of the Fanling-Sheung Shui New Town in the North District of Hong Kong. Fanling Town is to its southeast.-History:...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, 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...
. The installation was built by China State Construction
China State Construction International Holdings
China State Construction International Holdings Limited is the largest construction contractor in Hong Kong, mostly from the projects in the government, public organizations and large private corporations...
. Construction began on February 1997, at a cost of HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
1.858 billion. It covered 5.8 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s, and was claimed to be the largest in Asia by Hong Kong Architectural Services Department.
As of January 2000, pollution and hygienic controls of the slaughterhouse conform to international standard, and received ISO 14001 environmental management certification. The slaughterhouse is currently managed and operated by Ng Fung Hong Limited, who were contracted by the Hong Kong Government.
Today, the slaughterhouse can accommodate 12,000 pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s and 2200 cows. It is outfitted with sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
, a water recycling plant and advanced slaughter machines which can operate mostly without manpower. The facility can slaughter up to 5000 pigs, 400 cows and 300 lambs
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
per day.
Replacement for other slaughterhouses
The Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse replaced older slaughterhouses in Kennedy TownKennedy Town
Kennedy Town is at the western end of Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It was named after Arthur Edward Kennedy, the 7th Governor of Hong Kong from 1872 to 1877...
, Cheung Sha Wan
Cheung Sha Wan
Cheung Sha Wan is an area between Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is mainly residential to the north and south, with an industrial area in between. Administratively it is part of Sham Shui Po District. The Sham Shui Po District includes Mei Foo as well as Lai Chi...
and Yuen Long
Yuen Long
Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗...
, which were closed due to their close proximity to urban or residential areas. Before the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse opened, the freight trains that carried livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
from Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
through the Lo Wu border station would terminate at Hung Hom Station, which was once the south-most end of former KCR
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon–Canton Railway refers to a railway network in Hong Kong which is now combined with the MTR railway system, comprising rapid transit services, a light rail system and feeder bus routes within Hong Kong, and intercity passenger and freight train services to the rest of China...
British Section / East Rail.
This slaughterhouse is set in the outskirts in Sheung Shui, next to the rail tracks of MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
East Rail Line between Lo Wu Station and Sheung Shui Station. A dedicated rail branch and freight station were built for unloading the livestock. This relieved the already busy railroads of East Rail Line, which previously shared with the East Rail commuter trains and Through Train service. The dedicated branch also avoids the waiting passengers and residents near East Rail, thus no longer exposing them to the stench from livestock trains.
See also
- Smithfield, Hong KongSmithfield, Hong KongSmithfield is a street with a length of approximately 1,300 m. in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Its northern section is a commercial and residential area, while its southern section is a road connecting it to Pok Fu Lam Road.-Location:...
, historical location of another cattle depot in Hong Kong - Cattle Depot Artist VillageCattle Depot Artist VillageCattle Depot Artist Village is located on 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The site was originally used as a slaughterhouse from 1908 to 1999. It was renovated and developed into a village for artists in 2001. It is now home to around 20 art groups...
External links
- Abattoir & Meat Processing Operation - Ng Fung Hong official site (English)