Tsing Yi

Tsing Yi (青衣), or Tsing Yi Island (青衣島) is an island of Hong Kong, to the northwest of Hong Kong Island. Area: 10.25 km².

Contents

1 Administration

2 History

3 Transportation

4 Miscellaneous

5 See also

Administration

Tsing Yi is part, together with Kwai Chung, of Tsuen Wan New Town and of the Kwai Tsing district in the New Territories.

Note: Tsing Yi is not part of the Islands District.

History

In the early days, the inhabitants on the island were farmers and fishermen. The population concentrated in the northeast portion of the island. Farmers grew rice, vegetables and pineapples. Fishermen lived in the small harbour of Tsing Yi Tong(青衣塘). They lived on their junks and boats all the time and fished in the near-by waters. They worshipped the goddess of mercy and sea, Tin Hau(天后), and a temple was build on the shore of Tsing Yi Tong. At the birthday of Tin Hau, fishermen of all nearby waters came to the Tin Hau Temple(天后廟) for celebration.

At the beginning of twentieth century, there were some mainlander came to build some factories. After World War II, some heavy industries like shipping building, concrete, electricity, moved in. In the 70's, several oil companies moved their oil storages to the island. They built Tsing Yi Bridge(青衣大橋) to connect Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung over the Rambler Channel(藍巴勒海峽). The bridge was soon given to Hong Kong Government and remained sole road connection of the island for over ten years. Several industrial buildings were built for light industries beside the bridge later.

After the establishment of the bridge, Hong Kong Government started an extensive new town project on the island. Cheung Ching Estate(長青邨), Cheung Hong Estate(長康邨) and Mayfair Garden(美景花園) was founded consequently. The proximity of Mobile oil storage to Mayfair Garden and Cheung Ching Estate aroused the vast concern for its safety. Some social workers and residents urged the government to relocate the storage. The government only halted the last phase development of Mayfair Garden. The storage remained there until the decision to build Container Terminal 9.

Later, the focus of town building shifted northward. Two fisherman harbours, Tsing Yi Tong, and Mun Tsai Tong(門仔塘) was reclaimed for residental use. Many fishermen are relocated to a new residental block, the Ching Tao House(青桃樓) of Chueng Ching Estate. The land inhibitants were concentrated to several designated are to re-built their villages. The primary sectors are all gone under this stage of development. Tsing Yi Estate(青衣邨), Cheung On Estate(長安邨), Cheung Fat Estate(長發邨), Ching Tai Court(青泰苑) and Tsing Yi Garden(青怡花園) were built after finishing reclaimation. Ching Wah Court(青華苑) was built near Cheung Hong Estate.

At the same time, Tsing Yi Bridge was badly overburden and the structure was unable to copt with even-increasing traffic. There was only one lane of each direction on the bridge. Traffic congestion reached notorious and aroused protest. Finally, Tsing Yi North Bridge(青衣北橋) , a connection to Tseun Wan was built to accommodate the explosion of residental population.

Tsing Yi was under furthur development. Greenfield Garden(翠怡花園), Serene Garden(海欣花園), Broadview Garden(偉景花園), Cheung Hang Estate(長亨邨) was built. The final decision of relocation of Hong Kong Airport spored new chain of development - Airport Railway, Ting Kau Bridge(汀九橋) to Ting Kau(汀九) and North New Territories, Tsing Ma Bridge(青馬大橋) to Ma Wan(馬灣) and Lantau Island, Rambler Channel Bridge(藍巴勒海峽大橋) to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, Tsing Yi Doubling Bridge(青衣複製橋) on the side of Tsing Yi Bridge, the structure strengthen of Tsing Yi Bridge. On the island, new residental projects, Tivoli Garden(宏福花園), Grand Horizon(海欣花園), Mount Haven(曉峰園), Villa Esplanada(灝景灣), Tierra Verde(盈翠半島), Cheung Wang Estate(長宏邨) completed.

The Container Terminal 9 is built on the southwest shore of the island, together with resident blocks, Rambler Crest(藍澄灣).

Transportation

Tsing Yi is connected to the Kowloon peninsula, and Lantau Island.

There are bridges linking Tsing Yi Island with Tsuen Wan.

The Tsing Ma Bridge, part of the Lantau Link, connects Tsing Yi to Ma Wan island.

There is a metro station with the same name of the MTR metro system. It is part of the Tung Chung and Airport Express lines.

Miscellaneous

Tsing Yi Station has a huge shopping centre with hundreds of residential apartments above it, reaching up to a height of over 40 floors.

The apartments overlook a park on its southern side. People practice Tai Chi in it in the early morning hours.