Kai Yuen Street Explained

Kai Yuen Street
Namesake:Kai Yuen (mansion)
Country:Hong Kong
Location:Eastern District, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Completion Date:circa 1930s
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Kai Yuen Street is a street in North Point, Hong Kong, that goes up Kai Yuen Hill. It is a historically rich street, once serving as the main access road to Kai Yuen, the influential Chan Wai Chow (陳維周) family's mansion.[1] Kai Yuen was demolished in the late 1970s.[2]

Currently it is mainly a residential area with high rise apartments such as Bedford Gardens on the west side, and 5–7-storey Mid-Century apartments on the east side.

History

Origins

The surrounding area was named after the mansion 'Kai Yuen', a Chinese Renaissance-style mansion constructed in 1938 and one of the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. It was once the residence of the Chan Wai Chow (陳維周) family, a family of warlords originating from Guangdong. Chan Wai Chow's brother was Chan Kai Tong, the famous general and governor of Guangdong.[3]

After settling in Kai Yuen, Chan Wai Chow started to establish businesses such as hotels and cinemas in Hong Kong. Some of Chan Wai Chow's soldiers also settled in the area and established a variety of small shops and businesses.[4]

1945–1980 – prosperity and first developments

After the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II, North Point saw a boom in immigrants from Shanghai, Fujian, and the Philippines, causing a large demand for new buildings to be built. The period of the 1950s to the 1970s saw a variety of new developments in the Kai Yuen area, such as the construction of Chun Chu Temple, a Buddhist and Taoist temple founded in 1955 by a community of Hakka and Hainan people in North Point,[5] as well as a batch of tenement buildings for residential and commercial purposes designed by Yum Koon Seng, a prominent architect most known for designing luxury apartments at the time.

Post-1980 – demolition and redevelopment

During the late 1970s, the last owners of Kai Yuen sold the mansion to developers, who promptly demolished it to redevelop the land into a private housing estate. Kai Yuen was replaced by Bedford Gardens in 1981, a large residential development with 12 building blocks.[6] [7]

Subsequently, tong laus (tenement housing) in Kai Yuen upper and Lower lane, as well as Kai Yuen Street No. 60–74 were demolished in 2011 and 2021 respectively. To be developed into high rise residential apartments.

Kai Yuen Terrace

Kai Yuen Terrace is a short, sloped road that starts from the northern end of Kai Yuen Street. It is the main access route to private housing estates including Full Wealth Gardens, Kings Way Mansion, and Harbour Court.[8]

Kai Yuen Terrace used to be the access road to the North Point branch of Yan Pak English Secondary School (仁伯英文書院).[9] The school was founded by Seaker S.K. Chan (陳樹渠), the son of Chan Wai Chow.[10]

Kai Yuen Upper, and Lower Lane

Kai Yuen Upper, and Lower Lane was two streets connecting Kai Yuen Street that had rows of tong lau (tenement housing), including Kai Yuen Lau (繼園樓) and Fu On Lau (福安樓) built during the late 1950s. Both lanes were purchased by Stewart Leung Chi-kin (梁志堅) of New World China Land in 2010, and demolished in 2010–2011 for redevelopment.[11] Currently, Fleur Pavilla stands on the original site.

The author and scholar Sima Cheung Fung (司馬長風) once lived in Kai Yuen Upper Lane during the 1970s.[12]

Features

Notable people

In the arts and popular culture

Several scenes in the 2004 thriller A-1 Headline (A-1頭條) features Kai Yuen Street and some tenement buildings designed by Yum Koon Seng.[24]

The 2019 animated film No.7 Cherry Lane (繼園臺七號) by Yonfan takes its name from Kai Yuen Terrace, inspired by the ethereal atmosphere surrounding Kai Yuen during the 1960s.[25]

Notes

  1. Book: 黄, 棣才 . 圖說香港歷史建築, 1920–1945 . 香港中華書局有限公司 . 2015 . 224 . zh . Illustrating Hong Kong historical buildings.
  2. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 18–20 . Background of Kai Yuen Street between 1945 to 1970.
  3. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 14–18 . Background of Kai Yuen Street before 1950.
  4. News: 2 February 2024 . 【爐峰漫話】遊北角繼園街 探尋文學足跡 . Wen Wei Po 文匯報 . zh.
  5. Web site: 崇珠閣 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916092248/http://www.fushantang.com/1005e/1005f/e6032.html . 16 September 2024 . 福山堂.
  6. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 20–23 . Background of Kai Yuen Street after 1980.
  7. Web site: Bedford Gardens . Centaline Property.
  8. Web site: Properties on Kai Yuen Terrace (繼園臺), Eastern District, North Point, Hong Kong Island . 22 October 2024 . Oneday.
  9. News: 15 Aug 1966 . 仁伯英文書院 . Wah Kiu Yat Po 華僑日報 . zh.
  10. Web site: School history . Chan's Creative School.
  11. News: 9 March 2010 . 北角地王爭奪戰 彤叔10年夢未圓 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417042647/https://eastweek.my-magazine.me/main/5788 . 17 Apr 2021 . 東周網 Eastweek.
  12. Web site: 21 May 2018 . 美學生活 傳承繼園的人文氣息 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210514004230/https://eastweek.my-magazine.me/main/77994 . 14 May 2021 . 東周網 Eastweek . zh.
  13. Web site: Fleur Pavilia . Centaline Property.
  14. News: 24 February 2021 . 消失中的繼園街 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513035225/https://www.thestandnews.com/personal/%E6%B6%88%E5%A4%B1%E4%B8%AD%E7%9A%84%E7%B9%BC%E5%9C%92%E8%A1%97/ . 13 May 2021 . Stand News 立場新聞.
  15. Book: Fan, Chi Wai . 鑪峰古今: 香港歷史文化論集2020 . 蕭 . 國健 . 131 . zh . 淺述北角崇珠閣的壇務發展.
  16. News: 邵 . 超 . 22 April 2013 . 北角繼園街 – 與張愛玲看風景 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508221116/http://www.zonaeuropa.com . 8 May 2013 . Apple Daily 蘋果日報.
  17. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 42–44 .
  18. Broad Development Parameters of the Applied Use/Development in respect of Application No. A/H8/435 – Land falling within "Comprehensive Development Area (2)" zone and an area shown as 'Road' at Kai Yuen Street, North Point. https://www.tpb.gov.hk/tc/plan_application/Attachment/20220726/s16_A_H8_435_0_gist.pdf
  19. News: 24 May 1966 . 聞 . Wah Kiu Yat Po 華僑日報.
  20. Some people believe that Eleen Chang lived in Feiloon Terrace (輝濃臺) during the 1950s. But in an interview Roland Soong recalled that she lived around Kings Road and not in Kai Yuen Street.
  21. Web site: 11 July 2018 . 宋以朗情繫張愛玲 從北角繼園街開始 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084706/https://www.bastillepost.com/hongkong/article/3140824-%E5%AE%8B%E4%BB%A5%E6%9C%97%E6%83%85%E7%B9%AB%E5%BC%B5%E6%84%9B%E7%8E%B2-%E5%BE%9E%E5%8C%97%E8%A7%92%E7%B9%BC%E5%9C%92%E8%A1%97%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B . 12 May 2021 . Bastille Post.
  22. News: 12 July 2018 . 跟宋以朗尋找張愛玲腳踪【The Culturist 專訪】 . The Culturist 文化者.
  23. "Stephen SOONG 宋淇（1919.5.31–1996.12.3)", Hong Kong Film Archive. https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/18995340/19057018/Stephen+SOONG_e.pdf
  24. News: 邵 . 超 . 22 April 2013 . 北角繼園街 – 與張愛玲看風景 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508221116/http://www.zonaeuropa.com/press061.htm . 8 May 2013 . Apple Daily 蘋果日報.
  25. News: 11 Aug 2019 . 楊凡：北角繼園臺 . 明周 . zh.

References

  1. Book: 黄, 棣才 . 圖說香港歷史建築, 1920–1945 . 香港中華書局有限公司 . 2015 . 224 . zh . Illustrating Hong Kong historical buildings.
  2. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 18–20 . Background of Kai Yuen Street between 1945 to 1970.
  3. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 14–18 . Background of Kai Yuen Street before 1950.
  4. News: 2 February 2024 . 【爐峰漫話】遊北角繼園街 探尋文學足跡 . Wen Wei Po 文匯報 . zh.
  5. Web site: 崇珠閣 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916092248/http://www.fushantang.com/1005e/1005f/e6032.html . 16 September 2024 . 福山堂.
  6. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 20–23 . Background of Kai Yuen Street after 1980.
  7. Web site: Bedford Gardens . Centaline Property.
  8. Web site: Properties on Kai Yuen Terrace (繼園臺), Eastern District, North Point, Hong Kong Island . 22 October 2024 . Oneday.
  9. News: 15 Aug 1966 . 仁伯英文書院 . Wah Kiu Yat Po 華僑日報 . zh.
  10. Web site: School history . Chan's Creative School.
  11. News: 9 March 2010 . 北角地王爭奪戰 彤叔10年夢未圓 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417042647/https://eastweek.my-magazine.me/main/5788 . 17 Apr 2021 . 東周網 Eastweek.
  12. Web site: 21 May 2018 . 美學生活 傳承繼園的人文氣息 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210514004230/https://eastweek.my-magazine.me/main/77994 . 14 May 2021 . 東周網 Eastweek . zh.
  13. Web site: Fleur Pavilia . Centaline Property.
  14. News: 24 February 2021 . 消失中的繼園街 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513035225/https://www.thestandnews.com/personal/%E6%B6%88%E5%A4%B1%E4%B8%AD%E7%9A%84%E7%B9%BC%E5%9C%92%E8%A1%97/ . 13 May 2021 . Stand News 立場新聞.
  15. Book: Fan, Chi Wai . 鑪峰古今: 香港歷史文化論集2020 . 蕭 . 國健 . 131 . zh . 淺述北角崇珠閣的壇務發展.
  16. News: 邵 . 超 . 22 April 2013 . 北角繼園街 – 與張愛玲看風景 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508221116/http://www.zonaeuropa.com . 8 May 2013 . Apple Daily 蘋果日報.
  17. Zhang . Yan Crystal . A Lost Paradise:The Disappearing Urban Heritage of Kai Yuen Street, Hong Kong . Hong Kong University . registration . 42–44 .
  18. Broad Development Parameters of the Applied Use/Development in respect of Application No. A/H8/435 – Land falling within "Comprehensive Development Area (2)" zone and an area shown as 'Road' at Kai Yuen Street, North Point. https://www.tpb.gov.hk/tc/plan_application/Attachment/20220726/s16_A_H8_435_0_gist.pdf
  19. News: 24 May 1966 . 聞 . Wah Kiu Yat Po 華僑日報.
  20. Some people believe that Eleen Chang lived in Feiloon Terrace (輝濃臺) during the 1950s. But in an interview Roland Soong recalled that she lived around Kings Road and not in Kai Yuen Street.
  21. Web site: 11 July 2018 . 宋以朗情繫張愛玲 從北角繼園街開始 . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084706/https://www.bastillepost.com/hongkong/article/3140824-%E5%AE%8B%E4%BB%A5%E6%9C%97%E6%83%85%E7%B9%AB%E5%BC%B5%E6%84%9B%E7%8E%B2-%E5%BE%9E%E5%8C%97%E8%A7%92%E7%B9%BC%E5%9C%92%E8%A1%97%E9%96%8B%E5%A7%8B . 12 May 2021 . Bastille Post.
  22. News: 12 July 2018 . 跟宋以朗尋找張愛玲腳踪【The Culturist 專訪】 . The Culturist 文化者.
  23. "Stephen SOONG 宋淇（1919.5.31–1996.12.3)", Hong Kong Film Archive. https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/documents/18995340/19057018/Stephen+SOONG_e.pdf
  24. News: 邵 . 超 . 22 April 2013 . 北角繼園街 – 與張愛玲看風景 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130508221116/http://www.zonaeuropa.com/press061.htm . 8 May 2013 . Apple Daily 蘋果日報.
  25. News: 11 Aug 2019 . 楊凡：北角繼園臺 . 明周 . zh.

Further reading

External links

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