Lai Chi Kok
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lai Chi Kok (traditional Chinese: 荔枝角) is an area in New Kowloon, Hong Kong. It locates east of Kwai Chung and west of Cheung Sha Wan. Mei Foo Sun Chuen is the largest housing estate in the area. Administratively it belongs to Sham Shui Po District.
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[edit] History
Lai Chi Kok literally means the point of lychee. It separated Cheung Sha Wan from Lai Chi Kok Bay and a river from Butterfly Valley separated Cheung Sha Wan from Lai Chi Kok. Mei Lai Road nowaday approximates the shore and Butterfly Valley Road the river before any reclamation. At the intermost of Lai Chi Kok Bay, namely present-day Lai King Hill Road is a human inhabitant of Kau Wa Keng.
Qing government had set up a Customs station in Lai Chi Kok to collect customs duties after ceding Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula to British.[1] After the lease of New Territories, British reclaimed Lai Chi Kok for military use. On the other hand, west point of Lai Chi Kok Bay, in Kwai Chung, became a torpedo storage. Later the reclamation became petroleum oil storage and later turned into Mei Foo Sun Chuen.
[edit] Buildings
Lai Chi Kok Hospital is a special hospital located on the original location of the cap. Its neighbour Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre is a structure managed by Correctional Department.
The former Lai Chi Kok Incinerator was one of three incinerators in Hong Kong. It was demolished as it released pollutants in Hong Kong.
The headquarters of the Kowloon Motor Bus is also located in the area. The bus depot behind was relocated and the site is replaced by a private housing project known as Manhattan Hill.
[edit] Transport
The area is served by Mei Foo Station on the MTR Tsuen Wan Line and Mei Foo on the MTR West Rail Line. Lai Chi Kok Station of the MTR is actually located outside of the area of Lai Chi Kok, but in Cheung Sha Wan.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Sayer, G. R. (1975). Hong Kong 1862-1919. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962-209-118-0.
