Tai Kok Tsui is an area west of Mong Kok in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The mixed land use of industrial and residential is present in the old area. The Cosmopolitan Dock and oil depots were previously located there. Blocks of high-rise residential buildings have been erected on the reclaimed area to the west, which marked the revitalization of the area with many restaurants and bars setting up shop. Many of the older residential buildings have been vacated and are set to be replaced by luxury high-rise buildings.
Demography
Until recently, many of the residents in Tai Kok Tsui were senior citizens but there has been a more recent influx of younger people, especially those returning to Hong Kong after time spent overseas. Traditionally the area has been known as one characterized by the presence of immigrants - often described as 'illegal immigrants' though this term is used rather intolerantly in Hong Kong and at times may describe people who are no such thing.
History
Before any reclamation, Tai Kok Tsui was geographically a long island of Hong Kong of granite linked by an isthmus at its north to Kowloon Peninsula. The long granite hill divided the reclamation in its east and dock area in the west in 1924. The tip of the cape hosted the Asia oil tanks. The area was mainly for dock facilities at this period as reflected in present-day Anchor Street. The Cosmopolitan Dock survived till the 1960s which is now Cosmopolitan Estate. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link was built underneath Tai Kok Tsui. In January 2010, the local residents protested and said the railway would cause unbearable noise pollution to residents in some districts and could cause a number of old buildings with poor foundations to collapse.
Coast and reclamation
The Chinese characterTsui in Tai Kok Tsui implies that the area was originally an elongated cape on the west side of Kowloon Peninsula. The cove between the cape and Kowloon Peninsula was reclaimed during the period of 1867-1904. More reclamation along its shore took place during the period of 1904-1924 and more covered its tip during the period of 1924-1945. Minor reclamation was needed during the period 1964-1982 when the Tai Kok Tsui Ferry Pier was built. The launch of the Airport Core Programme in the 1990s gave rise to substantial reclamation as well as revitalization of the district. Part of Tai Kok Tsui - the area newly reclaimed in the 1990s - is increasingly referred to as Olympic due to the nearby MTR Station opened in 1998, and the Olympian Cityshopping centre.
Housing
Island Harborview
Island Harborview, completed in 1998-99, was the first private housing estate to be built in the newly reclaimed area, it is located next to Olympian City 1. There are 9 blocks in total which form an 'L' shape. Blocks 1,2,3,5 and 6 faces East/West while Blocks 7,8,9 and 10 face North/South. The estate has a clubhouse with many facilities such as a swimming pool and 2 badminton courts. It is located at 11 Hoi Fai Road Tai Kok Tsui, but its car entrance is at Hoi Fan Road.
Florient Rise, formerly Cherry Street Project is a private estate in Cherry Street. It was jointly developed by Nan Fung Group and Urban Renewal Authority in 2008, and construction was completed in May 2009. It comprises three blocks with a total of 522 units. There is a residential block called "Hoi Ming Court" in the middle of the site which was excluded from the redevelopment project due to its young age and high acquisition cost. Florient Rise was built around Hoi Ming Court.
Harbour Green
Harbour Green is a private estate and part of the Olympic Station Phase III project. It comprises five 48 or 56 floors towers with a total of 1,514 units. It was jointly developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and MTR Corporation and completed in 2007.
One Silversea
One Silversea is a private estate located at the waterfront site of the former Tai Kok Tsui Temporary Bus Terminus, it was developed by Sino Land and completed in 2006.
Shining Heights
Shining Heights, at 83 Sycamore Street, was developed by Hong Kong Ferry Company Limited and its parent company, Henderson Land Development. It was formerly Hong Kong Ferry Staff Quarters It comprises one tower with a total of 348 units, which was completed in 2009.
The Hermitage
The Hermitage is a private estate located above the newly developed Olympian City 3.
