Central | |||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 中環 | ||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 中环 | ||||||||||||||
Cantonese Yale | Jūng Wàahn | ||||||||||||||
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Central (also Central District) is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in the northeastern corner of the Central and Western District,on the north shore of Hong Kong Island,across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui,the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. The area was the heart of Victoria City,although that name is rarely used today. [1]
As the central business district of Hong Kong,it is the area where many multinational financial services corporations have their headquarters. Consulates general and consulates of many countries are also located in this area,as is Government Hill,the site of the government headquarters until 2011. The area,with its proximity to Victoria Harbour,has served as the centre of trade and financial activities from the earliest days of the British colonial era in 1841,and continues to flourish and serve as the place of administration after the handover to China in 1997.
The area of Chung Wan [2] [3] (aka Choong Wan in the past; [4] [5] [6] 中環), named Central in English, was one of the districts (四環九約) in Victoria City. The English name Central became prevalent after the Island line of the MTR metro system was built in the early 1980s,[ citation needed ] and the connected stations of Pedder and Chater renamed as Central . On some older maps, it and the area to its west are named Kwan Tai Lo (羣帶路) below Victoria Peak. It formed a channel, Chung Mun (中門), with Tsim Sha Tsui, on the sea route along the coast of southern China. The eastern part of Central District has been known as Admiralty since the completion of Admiralty station in the early 1980s.[ citation needed ]
Central is located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. It is bordered in the west by Sheung Wan, with the border being along Aberdeen Street (also called Wing Kut Street). It is bordered in the east by Admiralty, an eastern extension of the central business district. As such, Admiralty is sometimes considered a part of Central. Central is bordered in the south by Mid-Levels, an area halfway up Victoria Peak. The boundary between Central and Mid-Levels is not clearly defined.
For district council elections purposes, the area, together with Admiralty, correspond roughly to the "Chung Wan" constituency. [7] The boundaries of such constituencies may be subject to modification. [8]
The British landed on Possession Point of Sheung Wan in 1841. They soon decided to build a city on the north coast of Hong Kong Island, and the present-day Central was chosen to house major military facilities and an administrative centre. The area soon attracted both Westerners and Chinese to trade and live in the area, and a Canton Bazaar (precursor of Central Market) was built between Cochrane Street and Graham Street in 1842. The area was soon zoned for Westerners only, and the Chinese residents were restricted to Sheung Wan. [It was zoned for "Western-style buildings," meaning buildings with minimum space and hygiene standards]. The area was largely dominated by the presence of Victoria City. The popularity of this area would also boost the population of Hong Kong from 5,000 in 1841 to 24,000 in 1848. [9] Government House and other Hong Kong Government buildings were completed during this period on Government Hill. Various barracks, naval bases and the residence of Commander, Flagstaff House were built on the east end of the district. Between 1860 and 1880 the construction of City Hall, Theatre Royal and other financial structures made Central the heart of Hong Kong.[ citation needed ]
In 1904, the Praya Reclamation Scheme added 59 acres (24 ha) of land to Central's waterfront. Many of the proposals came from Sir Paul Chater and James Johnstone Keswick, the founders of Hongkong Land. [10] During the 1920s, Hong Kong was able to push far ahead economically, because of the cohesive collaboration between Central and all waterfront commerce.[ citation needed ]
The military structures survived until the 1980s. Only Flagstaff House remains as Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park. City Hall sat on the present premises of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters. Hong Kong's first road, Queen's Road, passes through the area and the business centre continued to expand toward the shoreline as far as the reclaimed lands.[ citation needed ]
Central has been the site of a number of major political protests. From October 2011 to September 2012, the Occupy Central movement against global economic inequality was based in front of the HSBC Main Building. [11] Two years later, in September 2014, democratic activists initiated Occupy Central with Love and Peace, demanding universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, eventually contributing to the Umbrella Revolution. [12]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2011) |
There are many Grade-A commercial buildings in Central, [13] a prime commercial district in Hong Kong.
Bank of China (Hong Kong) has its head office in the Bank of China Tower. [14] The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, a subsidiary of HSBC, has its head office in the HSBC Main Building. [15] Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank have their head offices in Central. [16] [17] Chu Kong Passenger Transport is headquartered in the Chu Kong Shipping Tower (珠江船務大廈) in Central. [18] The head office of New World Development is in the New World Tower in Central. [19] HKR International has its head office in Shun Tak Centre. [20]
Before 1999, Cathay Pacific had its head office in the Swire House in Central. [21] In 1999, the airline relocated its head office to the Hong Kong International Airport. [22]
Nord Anglia Education, which operates international schools in various countries, formerly had its head office in Central. [23] The head office moved to Hong Kong in 2012. [24] In 2018 the company announced it was returning its head office to the United Kingdom. [25]
Central, together with Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, is home to many hotels.
It provides alternative options for those who do not want to stay in Hotels, but looking for flexible lease terms, below are some examples:[ citation needed ]
Central is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 11. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and the following government schools: Bonham Road Government Primary School and Li Sing Primary School (李陞小學). [29]
The area is a major transport hub for Hong Kong (see also Transport in Hong Kong).
Climate data for Hong Kong Park (2011–2020) Extremes (2008–present) Sunshine hours (2019–2023) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 28.4 (83.1) | 27.9 (82.2) | 30.9 (87.6) | 32.3 (90.1) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.8 (94.6) | 36.0 (96.8) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.2 (93.6) | 32.0 (89.6) | 29.0 (84.2) | 36.1 (97.0) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 25.3 (77.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 28.3 (82.9) | 30.4 (86.7) | 33.2 (91.8) | 34.1 (93.4) | 34.8 (94.6) | 35.2 (95.4) | 34.2 (93.6) | 32.1 (89.8) | 29.6 (85.3) | 26.4 (79.5) | 35.5 (95.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.6 (67.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.8 (89.2) | 31.8 (89.2) | 31.0 (87.8) | 28.6 (83.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 21.1 (70.0) | 26.5 (79.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.9 (73.2) | 26.4 (79.5) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.7 (83.7) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.8 (82.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 22.7 (72.9) | 18.0 (64.4) | 23.5 (74.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26.2 (79.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 20.7 (69.3) | 15.7 (60.3) | 21.4 (70.5) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 9.8 (49.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.9 (67.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 7.9 (46.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) | 6.7 (44.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 13.6 (56.5) | 16.7 (62.1) | 20.3 (68.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.2 (72.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 2.9 (37.2) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 165.1 | 138.7 | 139.7 | 132.5 | 141.6 | 138.9 | 214.3 | 173.7 | 194.8 | 190.1 | 199.5 | 170.8 | 1,999.7 |
Source: Hong Kong Observatory [30] [31] [32] |
Wan Chai is situated at the western part of Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area north of Gloucester Road is often referred to as Wan Chai North.
The Star Ferry is a passenger ferry service operator and tourist attraction in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The service is operated by the Star Ferry Company, which was founded in 1888 as the Kowloon Ferry Company, and which adopted its present name in 1898.
Tsim Sha Tsui, often abbreviated as TST, is an urban area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui. The area is bounded north by Austin Road and in the east by Hong Chong Road and Cheong Wan Road.
Sheung Wan is an area in Hong Kong, located in the north-west of Hong Kong Island, between Central and Sai Ying Pun. Administratively, it is part of the Central and Western District. The name can be variously interpreted as Upper District, or Gateway District.
Central is an MTR station located in the Central area of Hong Kong Island. The station's livery is firebrick red but brown on the Tsuen Wan line platforms. The station is the southern terminus of the Tsuen Wan line, a stop on the Island line, and connects to Hong Kong station, which serves the Tung Chung line and the Airport Express.
Nathan Road is the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong, aligned south–north from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. It is lined with shops and restaurants and throngs with visitors, and was known in the post–World War II years as the Golden Mile, a name that is now rarely used. It starts on the southern part of Kowloon at its junction with Salisbury Road, a few metres north of Victoria Harbour, and ends at its intersection with Boundary Street in the north. Portions of the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines run underneath Nathan Road. The total length of Nathan Road is about 3.6 km (2.2 mi).
Sheung Wan is a station on the Island line of the Hong Kong MTR network. The station serves the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan and the western part of Central District. The livery colour of this station is khaki.
Connaught Road is a major thoroughfare on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It links Shing Sai Road in Kennedy Town to the west and Harcourt Road in Admiralty to the east.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre (香港文化中心) is a public multipurpose performance facility in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Located at Salisbury Road, it was built by the former Urban Council and, since 2000, has been administered by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government. A wide variety of cultural performances are held here.
The Wan Chai Pier, or Wan Chai Ferry Pier, is a pier at the coast of Wan Chai North on the Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong. The pier is operated by Star Ferry, and provides ferry services to Tsim Sha Tsui. The pier is near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Shun Tak Centre is a commercial and transport complex on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. It comprises a 4-storey podium containing a shopping centre and car park, two 38-storey office towers, and the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal.
Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, or Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, is a pier located on reclaimed land at the southernmost tip of Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. It is commonly known as Star Ferry Pier (天星碼頭) in Tsim Sha Tsui. Star Ferry operates the pedestrian ferry service across Victoria Harbour to Wan Chai and to Central on Hong Kong Island. The location is identified as "Kowloon Point" in the franchise held by Star Ferry.
The Central Elevated Walkway is an extensive footbridge network spanning Admiralty, Central and parts of Sheung Wan, near Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.
Pedder Street is a major thoroughfare in the core of Hong Kong's Central District. It runs south–north from Queen's Road Central, continues through Des Voeux Road Central, and ends at its intersection with Connaught Road Central.
Jordan Road Ferry Pier or Ferry Point (1924–1998) is a demolished pier originally located at Jordan Road, Jordan, Hong Kong.
Articles related to Hong Kong include:
Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier was a ferry pier in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong that operated from 1919 to 1992. It was one of the important ferry piers in West Kowloon and had a bus terminus nearby.
The Central and Western District located on northwestern part of Hong Kong Island is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong. It had a population of 243,266 in 2016. The district has the most educated residents with the second highest income and the third lowest population due to its relatively small size.
Company Address: 22/F.,Chu Kong Shipping Tower, 143 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong– Traditional Chinese: "香港干諾道中一四三號珠江船務大廈22字樓" , Simplified Chinese: "香港干诺道中一四三号珠江船务大厦22字楼"
30/F, New World Tower, 18 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong– Traditional Chinese address: "香港中環皇后大道中18號新世界大廈30樓", Simplified Chinese address: "香港中环皇后大道中18号新世界大厦30楼"
Mail HKR International Limited 23/F, China Merchants Tower Shun Tak Centre 168 Connaught Road Central Hong Kong- Traditional Chinese: "香港干諾道中168號 信德中心招商局大廈23樓", Simplified Chinese: "香港干诺道中168号 信德中心招商局大厦23楼"