Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is the harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Area: 41.88 km².
The Hong Kong government has undertaken many reclamation projects in Victoria Harbour over the past several decades.
The latest proposed reclamation extends along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay. The broad objectives of the project include :
- to provide land for the Hong Kong Station of the MTR Airport Express and the extended overrun tunnel of the railway;
- to provide land for Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link;
- to provide land for the future Shatin to Central Link;
- to provide land for the future North Hong Kong Island Line;
- to provide land for the construction of a world class waterfront promenade;
- to improve the environment of adjoining crowded districts by providing additional open space on the new reclamation; and
- to integrate the development with the existing area.
Background
After completion of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility Study in 1989, the Land Development Policy Committee endorsed a concept for gradual implementation of the reclamation. The reclamation consists of three district development cells separated by parks, namely, Central, Tamar and Exhibition.
Transportation
There is no bridge crossing the harbour, but 3 cross-harbor tunnels: Cross Harbour Tunnel (opened 1972), Eastern Harbour Crossing (1989), and Western Harbour Crossing (1997). They connect Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula across Victoria Harbour. The three tunnels act as important linkages between the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Three MTR routes also have tunnels under the Harbour. They are namely:
- Tsuen Wan Line
- Tseung Kwan O Line
- Tung Chung Line and Airport Express, which share the same tunnel
The Star Ferry crosses the harbour since the late 1800s. The operated ferry routes today are: Central to Tsim Sha Tsui; Wanchai to Tsim Sha Tsui; Central to Hung Hom and Wan Chai to Hung Hom. Some other regular ferry services also operate in the harbour.