Victoria Harbour
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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 one and a half centuries. The latest proposed reclamation extends along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay.
The Victoria Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world. An average of 220,000 ships visit the harbour each year, including both ocean going vessels and river vessels, for both goods and passengers. The container port in Hong Kong is the busiest in the world. The Kwai Chung Terminal operates 24 hours a day. Together with other facilities in Victoria Harbour, they handled more than 20 million TEUs in 2003. Some 400 container liners serve Hong Kong weekly, connecting to over 500 destinations around the world.
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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.
Transport
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There is no bridge crossing the harbour, but 3 cross-harbour 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.
The Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company used to operate numerous cross-harbour routes between various piers of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Many of the piers no longer exist because of reclamation projects, or many of the routes became unprofitable. Currently, the company continues to operate vehicular ferry services for vehicles carrying dangerous goods that are prohibited within tunnel crossings.
See also Victoria Harbour crossings
Sightseeing
VictoriaHarbour.jpg
The Victoria Harbour is famous around the world for its stunning panoramic night view. The best place to view the Harbour is at the Victoria Tower on the Victoria Peak. Besides the Peak, it is also a good idea to view the Victoria Habour from the coastal area of Tsim Sha Tsui. The Victoria Habour is famous for the harmonious skyline of the ridge of the Hong Kong Island, and the skyscrapers. It can be seen from the piazza at Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, or on a Star Ferry. Fireworks are staged several times a year, and laserworks shows - Symphony of Lights - are staged every evening at 8 o'clock.
Islands
Islands in the Harbour include:
- Green Island
- Little Green Island (小青洲)
- Stonecutters Island - a former island, now part of the Kowloon peninsula, following land reclamation
See also
- Avenue of Stars
- List of harbours in Hong Kong
- List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong
- Transportation in Hong Kong
External links
- Hong Kong Tourism Board (http://www.discoverhongkong.com)
- Hong Kong Port Development Council (http://www.pdc.gov.hk/eng/home/index.htm)
- Cap 1 Sched 3 Boundary of the Harbour (http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/0/1144b095565bc37ac825648000408c8c?OpenDocument)zh:維多利亞港