San Po Kong
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San Po Kong (traditional Chinese: 新蒲崗) is an area in New Kowloon of Hong Kong. South of Wong Tai Sin and Diamond Hill, and north of former Kai Tak International Airport, the area is bounded by Choi Hung Road and Prince Edward Road. San Po Kong is largely industrial and partly residential. Administratively, it belongs to Wong Tai Sin District.
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[edit] History
The history of San Po Kong can be divided into three periods as following:
[edit] Village
San Po Kong in Cantonese means new Po Kong. It is known as San Po Kong when going into industrial period. Po Kong (蒲崗) is a small hill where a Hokkienese village, Po Kong Village (蒲崗村), was founded south by a family Lam (林). Po is a Chinese character taking from Po Tin, where the Lam family from. The village was long demolished for development and only leaves its name in Po Kong Village Road. The site of the village is approximately Wong Tai Sin Police Station and surrounding. Interesting, the Lam family of Po Kong also founded a major Tin Hau Temple in Joss House Bay. In the past, Kowloon Bay is a major field producing salt. The Lam family is probably a producer and trader in the area.
Another former village in San Po Kong is Sha Tei Yuen (沙地園) or Sha Ti Un. Its was located in the present-day Rhythm Garden.
Before the development of Kai Tak Airport, large part of land was for cultivation on the estuary of many rivers emptying from the mountain range north to Kowloon Bay.
[edit] Airport
In 1916, south of present-day San Po Kong was initially reclaimed by Ho Kai and Au Tak for a garden estate. The reclamation was completed in 1920 and 1927 in two phases. The reclamation hence known as Kai Tak. The company was lack of capital to complete the project and leaved an unused land of 120 square miles. Hong Kong Government decided to buy back the land for Royal Air Force and a future Kai Tak Aerodrome. In last 1930s, the airport was largely expanded to whole San Po Kong. Clear Water Bay Road, the section of current Choi Hung Road, and a nullah was constructed circum the airport. During Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong, more than 20 villages surrounding San Po Kong was demolished for another expansion of the airport.
[edit] Industrial area
In 1958, the airport was shifted south, out of San Po Kong, and into Kowloon Bay. Prince Edward Road East was completed. San Po Kong was redefined into an industrial area. Manufacturing industry quickly filled the area with high-rise industry buildings. Government also built some buildings in factory estate for small factories.
In May 1967, a labour dispute in an artificial flower factory ignited the Hong Kong 1967 riots. It did not cease until October. During that period, public buses stop their services. Many workers from other areas needed to communte on foot.
After 1980s, many factories in San Po Kong were moved to China. The industrial buildings turn into offices and godowns.
