Kowloon Tong (Chinese: 九龍塘) is an area of Hong Kong located in Kowloon. The majority of the area is in the Kowloon City District.[1] Its exact location is south of the Lion Rock, north of Boundary Street, east of the East Rail line and west of Grampian Road.[2] It is one of the most expensive residential districts in Hong Kong.[3]

Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong
Traditional Chinese九龍塘
Simplified Chinese九龙塘
Literal meaningNine Dragons' Pond
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJiǔlóng Táng
Wade–GilesChiulung T'ang
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationGáulùng Tòng
JyutpingGau2lung4 Tong4
IPA[kɐ̌ulʊ̏ŋ tʰɔ̏ːŋ]
North part of Kowloon Tong. Lion Rock is visible in the background.

It is popular among Hong Kong's wealthy residents because of its schools and low-density private housing.[4] Most of the buildings there do not exceed 10 floors. In addition, this area is noted for its love hotels and nursing homes. Within Kowloon West, it is administratively divided between Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District, bisected by the Kowloon–Canton Railway.

History

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Kowloon Tong was originally a small village located in present-day Police Sport Association near Boundary Street, south of Woh Chai Hill. The area allowed cultivation based on rivers running down from Beacon Hill.

At the time of the 1911 census, the population of Kowloon Tong was 185.[5]

In the 1920s, the Hong Kong Government developed the area of east of Kowloon Tong and Kowloon Tsai on both sides of Kowloon–Canton Railway into a low density residential area (based on British town planning of the time). The residential area is thus known as Kowloon Tong. The area's roads and streets are largely named after counties in England. It was the home of a large number of wealthy English businessmen.

The name of Kowloon Tsai is preserved in the hill west of the former village of Kowloon Tsai. Martial artist Bruce Lee's residence was located in Kowloon Tong during the 70s.[6]

Landmarks

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Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong.
 
Tat Chee Avenue

Notable landmarks in Kowloon Tong include:

Media

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The two biggest radio companies in Hong Kong, Commercial Radio Hong Kong and Radio Television Hong Kong, are both located on Broadcast Drive, Kowloon Tong. Minibus route 29A serves Broadcast Drive from MTR Kowloon Tong station.

Education

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City University of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Baptist University and the City University of Hong Kong are located in Kowloon Tong. Many leading local English medium of instruction (EMI) primary and secondary schools on the Kowloon peninsula are located in the area, including Kowloon True Light Middle School, Kowloon Tong School (Secondary Section), Maryknoll Convent School, La Salle College and Beacon Hill School. Other well known international schools in the area include the American International School, Yew Chung International School, Concordia International School, Australian International School, and the Delia School of Canada.

Kowloon Tong is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 41. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and Kowloon Tong Government Primary School.[7]

Schools

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Kindergarten
International schools
Primary schools
  • Alliance Primary School, Kowloon Tong
  • Kowloon Tong Government Primary School
  • Kowloon Tong School (Primary School)
  • Kingston International School
Secondary schools

Transport

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Kowloon Tong is served by the MTR's East Rail line and Kwun Tong line at Kowloon Tong station. Passengers may change here between the two lines. The stretch of Waterloo Road through Kowloon Tong forms part of Hong Kong's Route 1. It leads into the Lion Rock Tunnel, and as such serves as an important artery for traffic heading into and out of the New Territories (in particular Sha Tin). Yau Ma Tei is also accessible via Waterloo Road.

Streets

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Streets in Kowloon Tong include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "District Council Constituency Boundaries - Kowloon City District" (PDF). Electoral Affairs Commission of HK Gov't.
  2. ^ "Town Planning Board: Outline Zoning Plan - Kowloon Tong". Town Planning Board of HK Gov't.
  3. ^ "Luxury housing to love hotels: the unusual history of Kowloon Tong". South China Morning Post. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  4. ^ "Also, properties near top Kowloon Tong schools are appealing". South China Morning Post. 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  5. ^ Hase, Patrick (1996). "Traditional Life in the New Territories: The Evidence of the 1911 and 1921 Censuses" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 36: 83. ISSN 1991-7295.
  6. ^ "Luxury housing to love hotels: the unusual history of Kowloon Tong". South China Morning Post. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  7. ^ "POA School Net 41" (PDF). Education Bureau. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
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