Tiu Keng Leng
Encyclopedia
Tiu Keng Leng is an area of Hong Kong
in the Sai Kung District
adjacent to Tseung Kwan O
(Junk Bay).
businessman named Alfred Herbert Rennie, who established the Hong Kong Milling Company at Junk Bay (his partners were Paul Chater and Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
). The business failed, and Rennie drowned himself there in 1908, but was mistakenly reported that he hanged himself to death at that time. The incident gave the Chinese name for the site 吊頸嶺 (Tiu Keng Leng / Jyutping
: diu3 geng2 leng5), meaning "Hanging (neck) Ridge". Because it was inauspicious, the name was later changed to similar sounding 調景嶺 (Tiu King Leng / Jyutping: tiu4 ging2 leng5, which can be loosely translated "ridge of adjusting situation".)
On June 26, 1950 the Hong Kong Government's Social Welfare Office (the predecessor of the Social Welfare Department) settled a considerable number of refugee
s from China
- former Nationalist soldiers and other Kuomintang
supporters (according to official government account, there were 6,800 of them) - at Rennie's Mill, following the Chinese Civil War
. The Hong Kong Government's original intention was to settle these refugee
s temporarily before they would be repatriated to Taiwan by the Kuomintang
or to Mainland China by the Chinese Communist. But this day never came for the Kuomintang
(under the auspices of a political-oriented charitable body named Free China Relief Association which became prominent after the government suspended food ration in 1953), the residents of the enclave became more supportive to the Kuomintang
cause. Thus, by the late-1950s, in correlation with the Cold War context in Asia at the time, Rennie's Mill gradually became a Little Taiwan
and a Bastion Against Communism, with the flag of the Republic of China
flying, its own school system and practically off-limits to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force until 1962 when the Hong Kong Government decided to turn it into a resettlement estate due to its apprehension of the growing Kuomintang
presence in the enclave. It also had a significant missionary presence. Despite its pro-Kuomintang
atmosphere, the 1967 Riots did not have an effect on Rennie's Mill.
In 1996 the Hong Kong government finally evicted the last of Rennie's Mill's residents, ostensibly to make room for new town
developments, as part of the Tseung Kwan O New Town
, but widely believed to be a move to please the Communist
Chinese
government before Hong Kong reverted to Communist Chinese
rule in 1997.
Metro Town
is a private housing estate situated directly above the Tiu Keng Leng Station. With 9 towers built on top of a carpark/shopping mall podium, it is the tallest structure in the area.
To the south of Metro Town, by the seashore, also a private housing estate, is Ocean Shores. The site was previously used by Shiu Wing for its steelmill.
There are also 3 other public housing estates in the area, namely Kin Ming Estate, Choi Ming Court and Shin Ming Estate.
, which were operated by minibus
es, and by water transport.
After the redevelopment programme, Tiu Keng Leng is now served by the Tiu Keng Leng Station
of the Tseung Kwan O Line of the MTR
metro
system.
is well known for the shape of its building. Designed by French architects Coldefy & Associs, it resembles a piece of paper floating mid-air featuring a glazed box raised seven storeys above the ground on four lattice-steel towers that rest on a sloping, grass-covered podium. Total construction cost amounted to HK$1.2 billion, it was opened in November 2010.
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...
in the Sai Kung District
Sai Kung District
Sai Kung District is the second largest district in Hong Kong in terms of area. It comprises the southern half of Sai Kung Peninsula and Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories plus a strip to the east of Kowloon. The administrative centre is Sai Kung Town but the district's population is...
adjacent to Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O is a bay in Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong. In the northern tip of the bay lies the Tseung Kwan O Village....
(Junk Bay).
History
Rennie's Mill got its name from a CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman named Alfred Herbert Rennie, who established the Hong Kong Milling Company at Junk Bay (his partners were Paul Chater and Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody was a successful Parsi businessman in Hong Kong.-Biography:He was born in Bombay and moved to Hong Kong around 1860...
). The business failed, and Rennie drowned himself there in 1908, but was mistakenly reported that he hanged himself to death at that time. The incident gave the Chinese name for the site 吊頸嶺 (Tiu Keng Leng / Jyutping
Jyutping
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong in 1993. Its formal name is The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong Cantonese Romanization Scheme...
: diu3 geng2 leng5), meaning "Hanging (neck) Ridge". Because it was inauspicious, the name was later changed to similar sounding 調景嶺 (Tiu King Leng / Jyutping: tiu4 ging2 leng5, which can be loosely translated "ridge of adjusting situation".)
On June 26, 1950 the Hong Kong Government's Social Welfare Office (the predecessor of the Social Welfare Department) settled a considerable number of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s from 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...
- former Nationalist soldiers and other Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
supporters (according to official government account, there were 6,800 of them) - at Rennie's Mill, following the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. The Hong Kong Government's original intention was to settle these refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s temporarily before they would be repatriated to Taiwan by the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
or to Mainland China by the Chinese Communist. But this day never came for the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(under the auspices of a political-oriented charitable body named Free China Relief Association which became prominent after the government suspended food ration in 1953), the residents of the enclave became more supportive to the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
cause. Thus, by the late-1950s, in correlation with the Cold War context in Asia at the time, Rennie's Mill gradually became a Little Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and a Bastion Against Communism, with the flag of the Republic of China
Flag of the Republic of China
The Flag of the Republic of China is red with a navy blue canton bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays. In Chinese, the flag is commonly described as Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth to reflect its attributes....
flying, its own school system and practically off-limits to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force until 1962 when the Hong Kong Government decided to turn it into a resettlement estate due to its apprehension of the growing Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
presence in the enclave. It also had a significant missionary presence. Despite its pro-Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
atmosphere, the 1967 Riots did not have an effect on Rennie's Mill.
In 1996 the Hong Kong government finally evicted the last of Rennie's Mill's residents, ostensibly to make room for new town
New towns of Hong Kong
The area of Hong Kong is very mountainous and many places in the New Territories have limited access to roads. Hong Kong started developing new towns in the 1950s, to accommodate booming populations. In the early days the term "satellite towns" was used. The very first new towns included Tsuen Wan...
developments, as part of the Tseung Kwan O New Town
Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O is a bay in Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong. In the northern tip of the bay lies the Tseung Kwan O Village....
, but widely believed to be a move to please the Communist
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
government before Hong Kong reverted to Communist Chinese
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
rule in 1997.
Housing
Tiu Keng Leng, nowaday, is a fully developed residential district.Metro Town
Metro Town
Metro Town Phase One, also spelled simply as Metro Town , is a residential high-rise development located in the Tseung Kwan O district of the New Territories in Hong Kong, near MTR Tiu Keng Leng Station in Tiu Keng Leng...
is a private housing estate situated directly above the Tiu Keng Leng Station. With 9 towers built on top of a carpark/shopping mall podium, it is the tallest structure in the area.
To the south of Metro Town, by the seashore, also a private housing estate, is Ocean Shores. The site was previously used by Shiu Wing for its steelmill.
There are also 3 other public housing estates in the area, namely Kin Ming Estate, Choi Ming Court and Shin Ming Estate.
Transport
Before the redevelopment and reclamation in the surrounding area, Rennie's Mill could be reached by the winding, hilly and narrow Po Lam Road South, which ran past numerous busy quarries. At that time, Rennie's Mill's only means of public transport were the routes 90 and 290 of Kowloon Motor BusKowloon Motor Bus
The Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
, which were operated by minibus
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
es, and by water transport.
After the redevelopment programme, Tiu Keng Leng is now served by the Tiu Keng Leng Station
Tiu Keng Leng (MTR)
Tiu Keng Leng Station is an MTR station located in Tiu Keng Leng. The station features cross-platform interchange between the Tseung Kwan O Line and the Kwun Tong Line, where it serves as an eastern terminal station for the Kwun Tong Line. It is between Tseung Kwan O and Yau Tong stations...
of the Tseung Kwan O Line of the 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...
metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system.
Education
Hong Kong Design Institute located across the street from Metro TownMetro Town
Metro Town Phase One, also spelled simply as Metro Town , is a residential high-rise development located in the Tseung Kwan O district of the New Territories in Hong Kong, near MTR Tiu Keng Leng Station in Tiu Keng Leng...
is well known for the shape of its building. Designed by French architects Coldefy & Associs, it resembles a piece of paper floating mid-air featuring a glazed box raised seven storeys above the ground on four lattice-steel towers that rest on a sloping, grass-covered podium. Total construction cost amounted to HK$1.2 billion, it was opened in November 2010.