Central, Hong Kong

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Central
Hong Kong Island Skyline 2009.jpg
Central as viewed from Tsim Sha Tsui, on the opposite side of Victoria Harbour
Traditional Chinese中環

Central (also Central District) is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. The area was the heart of Victoria City, although that name is rarely used today.

As the central business district of Hong Kong, it is the area where many multinational financial services corporations have their headquarters. Consulates general and consulates of many countries are also located in this area, as is Government Hill, the site of the government headquarters. The area, with its proximity to Victoria Harbour, has served as the centre of trade and financial activities from the earliest days of the British colonial era in 1841, and continues to flourish and serve as the place of administration after the handover to China in 1997.

Naming[]

View of Central and Victoria Harbour from Victoria Peak. Tsim Sha Tsui is visible across the harbour.
Admiralty, Central and the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, view from the east in 2010.
The General Post Office, the City Hall, and the surrounding business buildings in Central, viewed from the west.

The area of Chung Wan[1] (中環), named Central in English, was one of the districts (四環九約) in Victoria City. The English name Central became prevalent after the Island line of the MTR metro system was built in the early 1980s, and the connected stations of Pedder and Chater renamed as Central. On some older maps, it and the area to its west are named Kwan Tai Lo (羣帶路) below Victoria Peak. It formed a channel, Chung Mun (中門), with Tsim Sha Tsui, on the sea route along the coast of southern China. The eastern part of Central District has been known as Admiralty since the completion of Admiralty station in the early 1980s.[citation needed]

Location[]

Central is located on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. It is bordered in the west by Sheung Wan, with the border being along Aberdeen Street (also called Wing Kut Street). It is bordered in the east by Admiralty, an eastern extension of the central business district. As such, Admiralty is sometimes considered a part of Central. Central is bordered in the south by Mid-Levels, an area halfway up Victoria Peak. The boundary between Central and Mid-Levels is not clearly defined.

For district council elections purposes, the area, together with Admiralty, correspond roughly to the "Chung Wan" constituency.[2] The boundaries of such constituencies may be subject to modification.[3]

History[]

Central waterfront in the 1920s.
The Court of Final Appeal Building, completed in 1912, once used as the building of Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1985 to 2011.

The British landed on Possession Point of Sheung Wan in 1841. They soon decided to build a city on the north coast of Hong Kong Island, and the present-day Central was chosen to house major military facilities and an administrative centre. The area soon attracted both Westerners and Chinese to trade and live in the area, and a Canton Bazaar (precursor of Central Market) was built between Cochrane Street and Graham Street in 1842. The area was soon zoned for Westerners only, and the Chinese residents were restricted to Sheung Wan. [It was zoned for "Western-style buildings," meaning buildings with minimum space and hygiene standards]. The area was largely dominated by the presence of Victoria City. The popularity of this area would also boost the population of Hong Kong from 5,000 in 1841 to 24,000 in 1848.[4] Government House and other Hong Kong Government buildings were completed during this period on Government Hill. Various barracks, naval base and residence of Commander, Flagstaff House were built on the east end of the district. Between 1860 and 1880 the construction of City Hall, Theatre Royal and other financial structures made Central the heart of Hong Kong.[citation needed]

In 1904, the Praya Reclamation Scheme added 59 acres (24 ha) of land to Central's waterfront. Many of the proposals came from Sir Paul Chater and James Johnstone Keswick, the founders of Hongkong Land.[5] During the 1920s, Hong Kong was able to push far ahead economically, because of the cohesive collaboration between Central and all waterfront commerce.[citation needed]

The military structures survived until the 1980s. Only Flagstaff House remains as Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park. City Hall sat on the present premises of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters. Hong Kong's first road, Queen's Road, passes through the area and the business centre continued to expand toward the shoreline as far as the reclaimed lands.[citation needed]

Central has been the site of a number of major political protests. From October 2011 to September 2012, the Occupy Central movement against global economic inequality was based in front of the HSBC Main Building. Two years later, in September 2014, democratic activists initiated Occupy Central with Love and Peace, demanding universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, eventually contributing to the Umbrella Revolution.[citation needed]

Economy[]

There are many Grade-A commercial buildings in Central,[6] a prime commercial district in Hong Kong.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) has its head office in the Bank of China Tower.[7] The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, a subsidiary of HSBC, has its head office in the HSBC Main Building.[8] Bank of East Asia and Hang Seng Bank have their head offices in Central.[9][10] Chu Kong Passenger Transport is headquartered in the Chu Kong Shipping Tower (珠江船務大廈) in Central.[11]

Before 1999, Cathay Pacific had its head office in the Swire House in Central.[12] In 1999, the airline relocated its head office to Hong Kong International Airport.[13]

Nord Anglia Education, which operates international schools in various countries, formerly had its head office in Central.[14] The head office moved to Hong Kong in 2012.[15] In 2018 the company announced it was returning its head office to the United Kingdom.[16]

Notable places, streets and buildings[]

Office buildings[]

Night view of Statue Square. From left to right: Bank of China Tower, HSBC Main Building, Standard Chartered Bank Building and Prince's Building
Two International Finance Centre.

Streets and squares[]

Pedder Street
Intersection of the lower end of D'Aguilar Street with Queen's Road in 2016

Government buildings[]

Central Government Complex, Tamar under construction in March 2011.
Former French Mission Building
The Cenotaph
St. John's Cathedral
Chater Garden

Other historical buildings[]

Hotels[]

Central, together with Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, is home to many hotels.

Entertainment areas[]

  • Lan Kwai Fong, the location of numerous bars, restaurants and clubs
  • Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Ferry Pier 8
  • SoHo, Hong Kong
  • Wyndham Street

Places of worship[]

  • Various Buddhist temples
  • St. John's Cathedral (Sheng Kung Hui, Anglican Church)
  • First Church of Christ Scientist
  • Union Church
  • Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Hong Kong (Roman Catholic)
  • St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic)

Parks[]

Protesters in Chater Garden on 28 July 2019

Schools[]

Former buildings[]

Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier was demolished in 2007.

Transport[]

Tram in Central.
View of the Central Piers.
Central–Mid-Levels escalators at Cochrane Street.
The night view of Connaught Road Central

Public transport[]

The area is a major transport hub for Hong Kong (see also Transport in Hong Kong).

Expressways and routes[]

Climate[]

hideClimate data for Hong Kong Park (2011–2020) Extremes (2008-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.4
(83.1) 		27.9
(82.2) 		30.9
(87.6) 		32.3
(90.1) 		35.8
(96.4) 		34.8
(94.6) 		36.0
(96.8) 		36.1
(97.0) 		35.8
(96.4) 		34.2
(93.6) 		32.0
(89.6) 		29.0
(84.2) 		36.1
(97.0)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 25.3
(77.5) 		26.4
(79.5) 		28.3
(82.9) 		30.4
(86.7) 		33.2
(91.8) 		34.1
(93.4) 		34.8
(94.6) 		35.2
(95.4) 		34.2
(93.6) 		32.1
(89.8) 		29.6
(85.3) 		26.4
(79.5) 		35.5
(95.9)
Average high °C (°F) 19.6
(67.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		22.3
(72.1) 		25.8
(78.4) 		29.0
(84.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.0
(87.8) 		28.6
(83.5) 		25.5
(77.9) 		21.1
(70.0) 		26.5
(79.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7) 		17.0
(62.6) 		19.4
(66.9) 		22.9
(73.2) 		26.4
(79.5) 		28.5
(83.3) 		28.7
(83.7) 		28.6
(83.5) 		27.8
(82.0) 		25.6
(78.1) 		22.7
(72.9) 		18.0
(64.4) 		23.5
(74.3)
Average low °C (°F) 14.3
(57.7) 		14.9
(58.8) 		17.3
(63.1) 		20.8
(69.4) 		24.4
(75.9) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.2
(79.2) 		25.6
(78.1) 		23.4
(74.1) 		20.7
(69.3) 		15.7
(60.3) 		21.4
(70.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8) 		9.8
(49.6) 		12.8
(55.0) 		16.6
(61.9) 		20.3
(68.5) 		23.7
(74.7) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.7
(74.7) 		23.5
(74.3) 		19.9
(67.8) 		15.6
(60.1) 		9.7
(49.5) 		7.9
(46.2)
Record low °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2) 		6.7
(44.1) 		8.4
(47.1) 		13.6
(56.5) 		16.7
(62.1) 		20.3
(68.5) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.6
(72.7) 		22.2
(72.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		10.0
(50.0) 		5.8
(42.4) 		2.9
(37.2)
Source: Hong Kong Observatory[19][20][21]

References[]

  1. ^ Map of circa 1880
  2. ^ District Council electoral boundaries – Central and Western District
  3. ^ Press release: "Public consultation on proposed constituency boundaries for 2011 District Council Election", 3 December 2010
  4. ^ Sanderson, Edgar (1897–1898). The British Empire in the nineteenth century: its progress and expansion at home and abroad. IV. London: Blackie and Son. p. 337. LCCN 02002538. OCLC 11625716.
  5. ^ Wordie, Jason. [2002] (2002) Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962-209-563-1
  6. ^ Office For Rent at Central Treasure Land. Retrieved 3 Oct 2018
  7. ^ "Contact Us Archived 20 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine." Bank of China. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. "Registered Office BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited 52/F Bank of China Tower 1 Garden Road Hong Kong"
  8. ^ "Contact Us." HSBC. Retrieved on 12 September 2011. "The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation – Hong Kong Address: GPO Box 64, Hong Kong, 1 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong SAR, China"
  9. ^ "Investor Enquiries." Bank of East Asia. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. "Registered Office: 10 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong"
  10. ^ "Business Banking Centres." Hang Seng Bank. Retrieved on 11 September 2011. "Level 1 & 6, Hang Seng Headquarters, 83 Des Voeux Road, Central" (Map Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine)
  11. ^ "Contact Us". Chu Kong Passenger Transport. Retrieved 25 August 2021. Company Address: 22/F.,Chu Kong Shipping Tower, 143 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong - Traditional Chinese: "香港干諾道中一四三號珠江船務大廈22字樓" , Simplified Chinese: "香港干诺道中一四三号珠江船务大厦22字楼"
  12. ^ "World Airline Directory" (PDF). Flight International. 30 March 1985. p. 68. Retrieved 17 June 2009. "Head Office: Swire House, 9 Connaught Road, C, Hong Kong"
  13. ^ "Cathay Pacific wins award for providing a smoke-free workplace at its Hong Kong Headquarters" (Press release). Cathay Pacific. 6 January 2005. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  14. ^ "Contact Us." Nord Anglia Education. Retrieved on 5 March 2016. "Central Office Address: Nord Anglia Education St George's Building Level 12 2 Ice House Street Central Hong Kong"
  15. ^ "Nord Anglia Education Relocates its Global Headquarters to Hong Kong". Nord Anglia Education. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Nord Anglia moves HQ to London". The PIE News. Professionals in International Education. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  17. ^ Yanne, Andrew; Heller, Gillis (2009). Signs of a Colonial Era. Hong Kong University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-962-209-944-9.
  18. ^ Lim, Patricia. [2002] (2002). Discovering Hong Hong's Cultural Heritage. Central, Hong Kong: Oxford University Press. ISBN Volume One 0-19-592723-0
  19. ^ "Monthly Means of Meteorological Elements for The Peak, 2004-2017". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 29 May 2018. 山頂氣象要素月平均值 (2004-2017)
  20. ^ "Monthly Means of Meteorological Statistics for The Peak, 2004-2017". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 29 May 2018. 山顶气象统计月平均值 (2004-2017)
  21. ^ "Extreme Values and Dates of Occurrence of Extremes of Meteorological Elements between 1884-1939 and 1947-2017 for Hong Kong". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

External links[]

Coordinates: 22°16′55″N 114°09′29″E / 22.28194°N 114.15806°E / 22.28194; 114.15806

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