North Point

North Point is bounded by Oil Street ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|油街}}) to the west and by Tin Chiu Street ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|電照街}}) to the east, by Victoria Harbour to the north and Braemar Hill to the southeast.Heritage Impact Assessment on the Former Clubhouse of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at 12 Oil Street [https://www.amo.gov.hk/filemanager/amo/common/form/AAB_20_2011-12_v1_p1.pdf Vol. 1 Part 1], p. 9 Causeway Bay neighbourhood lies west of North Point, while the Tsat Tsz Mui is east of North Point.

{{further|Shanghainese people in Hong Kong}}

File:Battle of HK 04.jpg during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in December 1941.]]

File:Northpoint1989.jpg, demolished in 2003.]]

File:HK SunBeamTheatre 2008.JPG on King's Road.]]

The name 'North Point' was first used by Royal Engineer lieutenant Collinson (1821–1902) in 1845."Heritage Impact Assessment on the Former Clubhouse of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at 12 Oil Street" [https://www.amo.gov.hk/filemanager/amo/common/form/AAB_20_2011-12_v1_p1.pdf Vol 1 Part 1], pp. 11–12. Appearing in his official survey map to mark the northernmost point in Hong Kong Island.{{Cite map|last=Collinson|first=Thomas|title=Ordnance Map of Hong Kong – sheet 2|date=1846|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102621571#zoom=6&lat=3252&lon=2801&layers=BT}}

Although the exact location of North Point was uninhabited before 1845, areas in around North Point have been inhabited since before the British arrived, with Tsat Tsz Mui Village considered as the oldest settlement in the vicinity, most likely established during the early 19th century."Heritage Impact Assessment on the Former Clubhouse of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at 12 Oil Street" [https://www.amo.gov.hk/filemanager/amo/common/form/AAB_20_2011-12_v1_p1.pdf Vol 1 Part 1], pp. 13–14.

During the early period of the Colonization of Hong Kong, North Point remained relatively barren when compared to other areas on Hong Kong Island such as the vibrant Sheung Wan and Central districts.{{Cite book |last=Pang |first=Amy |title=North Point, Hong Kong: Oral History |date=March 2019 |publisher= |isbn= |editor-last=Chan |editor-first=Tara |pages=18–19 |language= |translator-last= |translator-first= |trans-title=}} This was mainly due to lack of flat land around north point.

The first developments in North Point centered around Shaukiwan Road (now Kings Road), such as The Metropole Hotel built in 1899, used until 1906, where the Metropole Building stands today.http://gwulo.com/node/6577 Gwulo. The Metropole Hotel, North Point [1898–1906]. Retrieved 17 July 2012. The hotel was described in an advertisement as a popular resort occupying a charming seaside location, with first class refreshments and dinners.{{Cite news |date=21 Apr 1904 |title=METROPOLE HOTEL |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1498479674/|url-access=subscription |work=South China Morning Post |pages=8}} It was later rebranded as Belle View Hotel from 1906 to 1916 (Late Metropole Hotel).{{Cite news |date=1 Sep 1906 |title=BELLE VIEW HOTEL |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1498624217/ |url-access=subscription |work=South China Morning Post}} and North Point Hotel from 1917 to 1919, which was easily accessible by a tram service every few minutes.{{Cite news |date=26 May 1917 |title=New Advertisements |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1500007193/ |url-access=subscription |work=South China Morning Post |page=4}}

In 1919, the Hongkong Electric Company started operation of the territory's second power station at North Point.{{cite web|url=http://www.heh.com/hehWeb/MajorGroupCompanies/TheHongKongElectricCompanyLimited/Generation/Index_en.htm|title=Electricity Generation|publisher=Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited|access-date=2009-01-02}} Being the first industrial development in North Point, it was built on reclaimed land off the coast. The two original steam turbines of the power station were sourced from Dawson City, Yukon Canada, and were a prized purchase that provided relatively cleaner energy than older generation turbines.{{Cite web |date=9 Jan 2023 |title=North Point Power Station |url=https://industrialhistoryhk.org/north-point-power-station-2/ |website=Hong Kong Industrial History Group}} Within 10 years the station had increased it's generating power from 3,000 to 28,000 kilowatts, a testament to the rapidly expanding electricity needs of Hong Kong Island. Though in 1978 the power station is replaced by City Garden, the adjacent streets Electric Street, Power Street, and Tin Chong Street ({{Lit|Power Plant Street}}) reference the historical power station.

During the 1920s, Ming Yuen ({{Lit|Garden of Fame}}) Amusement Park was built on the hillsides of North Point, and became a popular entertainment venue on Hong Kong Island. The park was easily accessible by tram, there was also a bus service from Shek Tong Tsui.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Tin Kuen |title=History – Eastern District |url=http://had18.huluhk.org/article-history.php?region=3&cate=1&lang=en# |website=香港文化18區}} It featured a variety of programs such as circus performances, boxing matches, and open theaters, all of which are often well attended.{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Jacky |date=19 Mar 2018 |title=明園西街 特色欠奉的名園 |url=https://medium.com/@chunyu1230/mingyuen-western-street-d8f842878ce0 |website=Medium |language=zh}}{{Cite news |date=24 Dec 1920 |title=Circus To-morrow – Openiing at Ming Yuen Gardens – Programme of Attractions |url=https://mmis.hkpl.gov.hk/coverpage/-/coverpage/view?_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_hsf=Ming+Yuen&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_actual_q=%28%20all_dc.title%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.title.series%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+all_dc.contributor%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+all_dc.creator%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+all_dc.subject%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.description.tableofcontents%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+fulltext%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.accn%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.bibno%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.isbn%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.issn%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.other%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+dc.publisher.publishername%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%20OR+all_dc.description%3A%28%22Ming%5C%20Yuen%22%29%29&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_field=score&p_r_p_-1078056564_c=QF757YsWv58KKVLdGzsErRibJ4e197ZQ&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_o=4&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_order=desc |work=The China Mail |pages=1}}{{Cite news |date=11 June 1931 |title=名園露天電影 – 聯華公司主辦定期今晚開幕 |url=https://mmis.hkpl.gov.hk/coverpage/-/coverpage/view?p_r_p_-1078056564_c=QF757YsWv5%2FH7zGe%2FKF%2BFKJiEXG1aEzV&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_o=0&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_actual_q=%28%20all_dc.title%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.title.series%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+all_dc.contributor%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+all_dc.creator%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+all_dc.subject%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.description.tableofcontents%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+fulltext%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.accn%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.bibno%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.isbn%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.issn%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.identifier.other%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+dc.publisher.publishername%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%20OR+all_dc.description%3A%28%22%E5%90%8D%E5%9C%92%22%29%29&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_order=asc&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_field=dc.publicationdate_bsort&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_freetext_filter=%E4%B8%83%E5%A7%8A%E5%A6%B9&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_log=Y |work=工商晚報 The Kung Sheung Evening News |pages=3 |language=zh}} It was also famous for organizing Dragon Boat racing events off the coast at North Point.{{Cite web |title=Dragon boat racing, North Point |url=https://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hkplaces/All_Items/images/201107/t20110722_41746.html |website=Hong Kong Memory}} Due to various reasons, including competition from the adjacent Lee Garden, the park closed down in the end of the 1930s. Today, Ming Yuen West Street retains the name of the park.

During the 1930s, the beaches of North Point became one of the most popular places for holding swimming gala in Hong Kong.

In 1938, the North Point Refugee Camp was built to accommodate the influx of refugees from the Mainland. The camp comprised 26 huts. Access to the camp was via Kam Hong Road and Marble Road. During World War II, the camp was renamed the North Point Camp, and used as a prisoner of war camp for captured Canadian soldiers during the Japanese occupation.http://gwulo.com/node/9853 Gwulo. North Point Refugee / POW camp. Retrieved 17 July 2012.

During the Sino-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War, a large number of the rich and middle class from Shanghai such as the Jiangzhe people fled to Hong Kong to escape the turmoil of war, many of whom settled in North Point.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Tin Kuen |title=From Little Shanghai To Fujian |url=http://had18.huluhk.org/article-detail.php?id=150&lang=en |website=香港文化18區}} In 1950, North Point became known as "Little Shanghai", since in the minds of many, it has already become the replacement for the surrendered Shanghai in China. With entertainment venues being ubiquitous in Shanghai, emigrant Merchants opened Entertainment venues in North Point, first being Ritz Ballroom, Swimming Pool, and Garden, then the amusement park containing Sky Room nightclub: Luna Park, and a series of theatres such as the now iconic State Theatre (Empire Theatre before 1959). The first wave of emigrants also introduced Shanghai-style restaurants, beauty parlours, tailors, and barbershops. As a result, both Fort Street and Tsat Tsz Mui Road became the epicenter of middle-class Shanghaiese life in Hong Kong.{{Cite journal |last=Guldin |first=Gregory E. |date=1977 |title="Little Fujian (Fukien)": Sub-Neighborhood and Community in North Point, Hong Kong |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23889582 |journal=Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=17 |pages=113–114 |jstor=23889582 |url-access=subscription |via=}} They also learned Cantonese and intermarried with people of other dialect groups.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} During the 1950s, North Point was the premiere place of residence for these emigrants, leading to a massive population boom; by the end of 1960, North Point was listed as the most densely populated place on earth by the Guinness Book of Records.Guinness Book of Records, 4th edition, November 1960, p.74. The first school in Hong Kong to use Mandarin as the main medium of instruction, Kiangsu and Chekiang Primary School, was founded in 1953 in North Point by these early Shanghainese immigrants. Shanghai at the time was heavily associated with leftist movements; leftist-supported businesses in North Point such as the Sunbeam Theatre (which now showcases Cantonese Opera), are a legacy of their influence.

The second group that moved to North Point were the Hokkien Fujianese, who were mostly displaced by political events in China but then soon mostly moved to countries in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. During the late 1960s North Point became known as "Little Fujian". Small Indonesian specialist grocery shops selling coffee, coconuts, and bumbu are some of the remaining traces of their identity. The Fujianese set up Grocery shops on Chun Yeung Street, which offer a variety of traditional Fujianese foods, such as "misua", "tokwa", "tikoy", "lumpia" & "green bean cake", all of which are also staples of Chinese Filipino cuisine in the Philippines. The Fujianese also rented apartments to set up apartment-temples in North Point to worship Pan-Chinese Deities such as Gwan Yin, and the Fujianese deity Sheng Gung (Kong Tek Chun Ong, 廣澤尊王). Many of these apartment-temples were established by Monks and Nuns who escaped Fujian when the Chinese Cultural Revolution attacked old religious organizations.{{Cite journal |last=Guldin |first=Gregory E. |date=1977 |title="Little Fujian (fukien)": Sub-Neighborhood and Community in North Point, Hong Kong |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23889582 |journal=Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=17 |pages=122 |jstor=23889582 |issn= |url-access=subscription}}

After Cantonese, Hokkien Min Nan is the most widely spoken language in North Point. Many Min Nan associations ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|閩南同鄉會}}) are based in North Point to bring people from the same towns or villages together. North Point is also home to several Min Nan-speaking churches serving the Min Nan Christians.{{cite book|title=香港閩南教會研究 (Research on Hong Kong Min-nam church)|author=黃彩蓮 (Kinia C. Ng)|year=2005|publisher=Alliance Bible Seminary|location=Hong Kong|language=zh}}

File:基督教會迦密堂北角堂1.jpg

File:中華基督教福恩堂1.jpg

File:香港基督教上海禮拜堂1.jpg

Today, North Point comprises a mix of new luxury developments and older Chinese buildings.

File:北角道行人天橋 North Point Rd Footbridge 香港鎮海宮橫額 1 2017-05.jpg.]]

The head office of Sino United Publishing is in the S U P Tower ({{lang-zh|first=t|t=合出版大廈|labels=no}}) in North Point.{{cite web|url=http://www.sup.com.hk/english/contactus.html|title=Sino United Publishing|access-date=2019-11-15|quote=S U P Tower, 75-83, King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong}} – [http://www.sup.com.hk/web/contactus.html Chinese address]: "地址: 香港北角英皇道75-83號聯合出版大廈26樓 "

File:Chun Yeung Street, Tram 140 (Hong Kong).jpg line runs through Chun Yeung Street, a busy marketplace.]]

City Garden, built from 1983 to 1986, is a private housing estate consisting of 14 blocks, each 28 storeys tall. Part of the site was occupied North Point Power Station before 1983.

File:City Garden.jpg and North Point area from Victoria Harbour, with elevated Island Eastern Corridor causeway in foreground.]]

North Point Estate, which stood next to the North Point Ferry Pier, was demolished in 2003.

File:HK_港島東區_Eastern_炮台山道_30_Fortress_Hill_Road_金文泰中學_Clementi_Secondary_School_January_2021_SS2_05.jpg]]

File:Belilios Public School viewed from King's Road.jpg]]

There are three government primary schools in North Point. Located at 888 King's Road, the North Point Government Primary School (NPGPS) opened in 1954. The North Point Island Place Primary and Kindergarten School is located on Tanner Road and is in the Island Place Estate. The North Point Government Primary School (Cloud View Road) abbreviated as NPCVR, also opened in 1954, is located at 22 Cloud View Road. All three schools are whole-day, co-ed and have nominated secondary school status with Shau Kei Wan GSS, Shau Kei Wan East GSS and Clementi Secondary School.

Belilios Public School, a government secondary school for girls, is in North Point.{{cite web|url=https://www.bps.hk/location-and-contact|title=Location and Contact|publisher=Belilios Public School|access-date=2024-01-21}}

The Chinese International School is located on Hau Yuen Path in Braemar Hill and is a private, co-educational school providing education to students from Reception to Year 13. Established in 1983,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cis.edu.hk/|title=Chinese International School|website=www.cis.edu.hk|access-date=2020-04-17}} the school has a diverse student body with over 30 nationalities represented. Secondary school students pursue the IB Primary Years Programme before moving on to the IB Diploma.

North Point is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 14. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and North Point Government Primary School.{{cite web|url=https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/school-lists/2023dpnet-14b.pdf|title=POA School Net 14|publisher=Education Bureau|accessdate=2022-09-12}}

; Former schools

• Java Road Government Primary School{{cite web|url=http://www.school.net.hk/schools/primary/info/510815.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980131051441/http://www.school.net.hk/schools/primary/info/510815.html|title=渣華道官立下午小學 JAVA ROAD GOVERNMENT PRIMARY PM SCHOOL|publisher=School.net.hk|archive-date=1998-01-31|accessdate=2022-09-11|quote=香港北角糖水道18-20號 18-20 TONG SHUI ROAD NORTH POINT HK}}
• The Hong Kong Japanese School's Secondary Section was formerly on Braemar Hill in North Point."[http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong About JIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202065226/http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong |date=2015-02-02}}" ([https://archive.today/20150117130921/http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong Archive.today archive], [https://web.archive.org/web/20150202065226/http://es.jis.edu.hk/index.php/about-jis/jis-hong-kong Webcitation Archive]). Hong Kong Japanese School. Retrieved on 12 January 2015. "Hong Kong Japanese School – Secondary (Junior High) School – Braemar Hill, North Point." In April 2018 the junior high school moved to the Happy Valley campus.{{cite web |url=http://www.hkjs.edu.hk/~hkjssec/ |title=Home |publisher=Hong Kong Japanese School Junior High School Section |date=2018-01-29 |accessdate=2022-02-17 |quote=中学部は、2018年4月の新年度より、以下の所在地に移転します. No.157 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. (香港校と同じ場所です) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129033535/http://www.hkjs.edu.hk/~hkjssec/ |archive-date=29 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}

File:North Point Station.jpg platform of North Point station.]]

;MTR

North Point is served by the Island line and the Tseung Kwan O line of the MTR rapid transit railway system.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/operations/station_url_np.html|title=MTR > North Point|website=www.mtr.com.hk|access-date=2020-04-17}} North Point station is the terminus of the Tseung Kwan O line.

;Tramway

North Point is also served by Hong Kong Tramways, of which it is one of the seven terminal points.

;Bus

Kowloon Motor Bus, New World First Bus and Citybus have routes through North Point. North Point is also served by public light buses.

;Ferry

At North Point Ferry Pier, Sun Ferry operates routes to Hung Hom, and Kowloon City .{{Cite web |title=North Point – Kowloon City |url=https://www.sunferry.com.hk/en/route-and-fare/timetable?route=north-point-to-kowloon-city |website=Sun Ferry}} While Fortune Ferry operates route to Kwun Tong route, and Kai Tak.{{Cite web |title=North Point-Kwun Tong-Kai Tak |url=https://www.fortuneferry.com.hk/en/route-and-fare?route=3&origin=16&destination=17&departure_date=2024-10-25 |website=Fortune Ferry}} In the past. these routes were operated by Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry.

As part of Hong Kong Ferry, Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry operates a North Point/Kwun Tong Licensed Dangerous Goods Vehicular Ferry Service. It also operates the sightseeing service Harbour Cruise Bauhinia on public holidays.{{Cite web |title=Vehicular Ferry and Related Services |url=https://www.hkf.com/en/ferry.html |website=Hong Kong Ferry}}

During the annual Tin Hau Festival, special ferries operate from North Point Ferry Pier to Joss House Bay.

;Thoroughfares

There is one highway, Island Eastern Corridor, serving North Point; it runs along the waterfront of the area.

Streets in North Point include:

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Boat Street
• Cheung Hong Street
• Ching Wah Street
• Chun Yeung Street
• City Garden Road
• Comfort Terrace
• Electric Road
• Fort Street
• Fortress Hill Road
• Hei Wo Street
• Java Road
• Kai Yuen Street
• Kam Hong Street
• Kam Ping Street
• Kin Wah Street
• King's Road (partially)
• Marble Road
• Ming Yuen Western Street
• North Point Estate Lane
• North Point Road
• North View Street
• Oil Street
• Peacock Road
• Power Street
• Shu Kuk Street
• Tanner Road
• Tin Chiu Street
• Tin Chong Street
• Tin Hau Temple Road ({{lang-zh|t=天后廟道|labels=no}}) (partially)
• Tong Shui Road
• Tsat Tsz Mui Road
• Wharf Road ({{lang-zh|t=和富道|labels=no}})
• Yuet Tuen Street

{{div col end}}

• List of places in Hong Kong
• State Theatre (Hong Kong)
• Fujianese organized crime

{{reflist|25emem}}

• "History of North Point", in Heritage Impact Assessment on the Former Clubhouse of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at 12 Oil Street [https://www.amo.gov.hk/filemanager/amo/common/form/AAB_20_2011-12_v1_p1.pdf Vol 1 Part 1], pp. 9–70
• {{Cite journal |last=Guldin |first=Gregory E. |date=1977 |title="Little Fujian (Fukien)": Sub-Neighborhood and Community in North Point, Hong Kong |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23889582 |journal=Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=17 |pages=113–114 |jstor=23889582 |url-access=subscription}}
• Pang, Amy (March 2019). Chan, Tara (ed.). 北角香港: 口述歷史 [North Point, Hong Kong: Oral History]. Translated by Tse, Winnie. Hong Kong: The Conservancy Association Center for Heritage. ISBN 9789881422477.
• {{cite book|first=Jason|last=Wordie|year=2002|title=Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island|publisher=Hong Kong University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qTAZLIY3D7QC|isbn=962-209-563-1}}

• {{Cite book |last=郭 |first=少棠 |title=東區風物志︰集體記憶社區情 |publisher=Eastern District Council 東區區議會 |year=2003 |isbn=9889743019 |location=Hong Kong |language=zh}}

• [http://www.nwff.com.hk Sun Ferry]
• [http://www.fortuneferry.com.hk Fortune Ferry]
• [http://www.sunbeamtheatre.com/hk/index.php Sunbeam Theatre website] (in Chinese)

{{Commons category|North Point}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Eastern District

| North = (Victoria Harbour)

| Northeast =

| East = Tathong Channel

| Southeast =

| South = Southern District

| Southwest =

| West = Wan Chai District

| Northwest =

}}

{{Eastern District, Hong Kong}}

{{Hong Kong Urban Areas}}

Category:Eastern District, Hong Kong