Shui Chuen O Estate Explained

Building Name:Shui Chuen O Estate
Location:1 Pok Chuen Street, Sha Tin, New Territories
Hong Kong
Status:Completed
Category:Public rental housing
Population:14,083 (2016)
Blocknumber:18
Units:11,123
Construction Authority:Hong Kong Housing Authority
C:水泉澳邨
Showflag:y
J:seoi2 cyun4 ou3 cyun1
Y:séui chyùhn ou chyūn

Shui Chuen O Estate is the largest public housing estate in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong.

The estate comprises 18 blocks offering 11,123 public rental flats. It also includes a commercial complex with 59 shops and an indoor market.[1] The new estate sits on a hillside is linked to the lower-lying areas by footbridges and lift towers, providing easy access to Pok Hong Estate and Sha Tin Wai station.

History

The estate was built in four phases concurrently. The first phase opened for population intake in 2015.[2]

The estate was affected by the 2015 lead in drinking water scandal.[3]

Additionally, there have been construction quality concerns. In 2016, a tenant at Shing Chuen House discovered that the floor slab under his flat's toilet was filled with powdery gravel. The material could be dug up by hand, exposing the rebar within the floor slab.[4] The estate was built by China State Construction, which has also been embroiled in controversy over contaminated water at Kai Ching Estate.[4]

Houses

English name Chinese Name Type Phase Completion
Ching Chuen House 清泉樓 Non-standard
(Y-shaped)
1 2014
Long Chuen House 朗泉樓
Yan Chuen House 欣泉樓
Hei Chuen House 喜泉樓
Shing Chuen House 城泉樓 2 2015
Ho Chuen House 河泉樓
Ming Chuen House 明泉樓
Mau Chuen House 茂泉樓 3
Lam Chuen House 林泉樓
Shou Chuen House 修泉樓
Chuk Chuen House 竹泉樓
Sung Chuen House 崇泉樓 4
Ling Chuen House 嶺泉樓
Lok Chuen House 樂泉樓Non-standard
(cross-shaped)
1 2014
Yuet Chuen House 月泉樓 2 2015
Ying Chuen House 映泉樓
Shan Chuen House 山泉樓 4
Tsun Chuen House 峻泉樓

Features

The Shui Chuen O Shopping Centre has 59 shops.[5]

The Shui Chuen O Market is connected to the shopping centre.

In order to facilitate pedestrian movement around the steeply sloping site, the estate design includes six lift towers, nine footbridges, and ten sets of escalators. The longest footbridge is located at the main entrance of the estate at Shui Chuen Au Street. With a length of 70 metres, it is the longest footbridge in any Hong Kong public housing estate.[6]

Demographics

As of 20 September 2016 (before all residents had moved in), the estate had a population of 14,083.[7]

It is designed to accommodate a population of 28,800.[8]

Politics

Shui Chuen O Estate falls within the purview of the Sha Tin District Council. In the 2015 election it fell entirely within the Jat Min constituency, which was represented by Yau Man-chun.

For the 2019 District Council election, the estate fell within two constituencies. Most of the estate is now located in the newly created Shui Chuen O constituency, which is represented by Lo Tak-ming. The remainder falls within the Jat Chuen constituency, which is represented by Yau Man-chun.[9]

For the Legislative Council elections, Shui Chuen O falls within the New Territories East constituency.

Transport

There is a bus terminus at the estate. It is served by two all-day Kowloon Motor Bus routes, several peak hour-only routes, and green minibuses.

It is also within walking distance of Sha Tin Wai station.[6]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shuen Chuen O Plaza Shatin. Hong Kong Housing Authority. 18 July 2014.
  2. Web site: LCQ5: Public facilities and services for Shui Chuen O Estate. Legislative Council. 13 April 2016.
  3. News: Water samples to be taken from 10 Hong Kong public housing estates in bid to allay residents’ fears over lead. South China Morning Post. Thomas. Chan. Lai. Ying-kit. 15 July 2015. 9 June 2021.
  4. News: Yuen. Chantal. Concerns raised over loose gravel found within concrete floor at Sha Tin public housing estate. Hong Kong Free Press. 4 October 2016.
  5. Web site: Shopping Centres Newly Opened. Hong Kong Housing Authority. 9 December 2016.
  6. Web site: Tenants at Shui Chuen O Estate enjoy convenient pedestrian network (with photo/video) . Hong Kong Government . 3 December 2017.
  7. Web site: Demographic Information of Shui Chuen O Estate. accessinfo.hk. 14 December 2016.
  8. Web site: Shui Chuen O Estate, Sha Tin, New Territories East . Housing Authority . 14 September 2019.
  9. Web site: District Council Constituency Boundaries – Sha Tin District . 2019 District Council Ordinary Election Constituency Boundaries . . 14 September 2019.