Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣; Jyutping: tung4 lo4 waan1; Pinyin: tónglúowān; lit. "Copper Gong Bay") or East Point (東角; Cantonese IPA dəʊŋ1 gɔk3) is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, located on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts.

Location

Part of Causeway Bay, including Tsing Fung Street, Causeway Bay market, the Victoria Park, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Jardine's noon cannon shot and the Police Officers Club is in the Eastern District. Queen's College and the Hong Kong Central Library are in Wan Chai District.

History

Causeway Bay before urban development and massive land reclamation was a heavily silted bay. Its former shape can be found on maps by the route Tung Lo Wan Road , which goes along the former bay. In the early stage of development a causeway was built, which is the present-day Causeway Road. In the 1950s, the coastline was further pushed forward when the remains of the bay was reclaimed for the Victoria Park, when the statue of Queen Victoria was brought back from Japan. The statue had been taken away during the Second World War from Statue Square at Chater Road, Central.

The typhoon shelter of Causeway Bay and the Tin Hau Temple reveal that the area was a fishing village .

The names of Yee Wo Street , Jardine's Bazaar and Jardine's Crescent reveal that the land in this area was sold by the British colonial government to Jardines in the early 19th century. The area was therefore named East Point, after a pointed place on the coastline, east from the centre of Victoria City.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 478,434 people, 176,750 households, and 117,538 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,630.3/km² (4,222.5/mi²). There are 190,724 housing units at an average density of 649.9/km² (1,683.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 17.53% White and 82.49% Asian.

Features

The present-day Causeway Bay is usually confused with East Point, the former has assimilated the latter. The original Causeway Bay is near the present-day Tin Hau MTR station, whereas the Causeway Bay MTR station is at East Point. The present-day concept of the Causeway Bay area covers all the way until Canal Road (Canal Road East and Canal Road West), or the 鵝頸 district.

East Point is now regarded as part of Causeway Bay as result of assimilation of the geographical name. An East Point Road can still be found, which reveals the pointed coastline in the early days, prior to reclamation.

Causeway Bay or East Point is one of Hong Kong's major shopping district. It includes the 13-storey Japanese department store Sogo (open 10:00 to 22:00 every day) and Times Square, an indoor shopping complex. Sogo Hong Kong was sold to local businessmen when the Japanese Sogo went bankrupt. Causeway Bay is one of the most crowded areas in Hong Kong since it contains many trendy shops carrying both locally made fashion and products from Japan. As such, it is a popular social spot for young people.

Many shops are open until well after midnight.

Causeway Bay is named after a former causeway at the present-day Causeway Road. Kellett Island off the coast of Causeway Bay has disappeared and connected as a result of land reclamation. It is the home of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, a prestigious sports club for sailing and rowing, and one of the few local institutions which kept its "Royal" name after Hong Kong's handover to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

For years, Jardine Matheson has fired a cannon shot at noon every day in Causeway Bay, by Victoria Harbour, slightly eastward of the former Kellett Island. The gunshots have served as time signals for many generations of old inhabitants of Hong Kong. This tradition still continues today. This is the "Noon-day Gun" mentioned in the Noel Coward song "Mad dogs and Englishmen".

Some buildings in the western part of Causeway Bay are named as "Wanchai something" building (e.g. Wan Chai Fire Station), although they are across the local customary limit of Wan Chai at Canal Road .

See also

• List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong

Transportation

• MTR: Island Line
• Bus:
  • New World First Bus: 2, 8, 38, 42, 106, 112, 116, N122, N8
  • Citybus: 5, 8X, 10, 11, 72, 92, 103, 170, 619, 690, 962, N962
• Tram

External link

• Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club