Central and Western District
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{{Infobox HK District |
official_name = Central and Western District|
image_logo = CentralWestern D.gif|
image_map = Hong Kong Central and Western District.svg |
map_caption = Location in [[Hong Kong]] |
google = http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=22.272806,114.128551&spn=0.058545,0.078359&t=k&hl=en |
leader_title = District Officer |
leader_name = Miss [[Eliza Yau]], [[Justice of the Peace|JP]]|
constituencies = 15|
area_note = |
area_magnitude = 1 E9 |
area_total = 12.4 |
area_land = |
area_water = |
population_as_of = 2006 |
population_note = |
population_total = 250,064 |
population_density = 20,102 |
latitude = 22°17' N |
longitude = 114°09' E |
website = [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/central/english/welcome.htm Central and Western District Council] |
footnotes = |
}}
The '''Central and Western District''' ({{zh-t|t=中西區}}) is one of the [[districts of Hong Kong|18 districts]] of the [[Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]] of the [[People's Republic of China]]. It had a population of 261,884 in [[2001]]. The district has the most educated residents with the second highest income and the third lowest population.
[[Central, Hong Kong|Central]] is the central business district and the core urban area of [[Hong Kong]]. Western is one of the areas of early development in Hong Kong. Both are located in the northern part of [[Hong Kong Island]].
==History==
Central District was the first area of planned [[Urban planning|urban development]] in Hong Kong. The site of [[Victoria City]] was also the capital during the [[Colonial Hong Kong|colonial]] era. The [[United Kingdom|British]] held a land sale in June [[1841]], 6 months after the flag was raised at [[Possession Point]]. 51 lots of land were sold to 23 merchant houses to build offices and warehouses. Some of the property buyers included [[Dent & Co.|Dent's]], [[Jardine Matheson Holdings|Jardine's]], Russell's and Olyphant's. At the time, the 2 roads Albany Nullah (now [[Garden Road, Hong Kong|Garden rd]]) and Glenealy Nullah (now [[Glenealy, Hong Kong|Glenealy rd]]) were mainly reserved for British use. The streets later became known as Government Hill<ref>Wordie, Jason. [2002] (2002) Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962-2095631</ref>.
In [[1857]], the British government expanded Victoria City and divided it into seven districts. The ones located in present-day Central and Western are: [[Sai Ying Pun]], [[Sheung Wan]], [[Tai Ping Shan]], Central. The area was essentially a [[Europe]]an area until [[1860]] when Chinese merchants begin buying up European properties around [[Cochrane Street|Cochrane st]], [[Wellington Street|Wellington st]] and [[Pottinger Street|Pottinger st]]. The Central district was the principal European business district, hence the arrival of the first large scale bank [[The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation|HSBC]]. The Western district was the commercial centre for Chinese businesses. When the value of the district raised, a meeting was held in February [[1866]] to establish a "District Watch Force" to police and protect this specific area<ref>Tsai Jung-fang. [1995] (1995). Hong Kong in Chinese History: community and social unrest in the British Colony, 1842-1913. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231079338</ref>.
In [[1880]], [[Shek Tong Tsui]] was established, followed by [[Kennedy Town]] in the 20th century. By 1890s the majority of Hong Kong's population was concentrated in the district with about 200,000 residents, mostly in Victoria City<ref>Sanderson, Edgar. [1897] (1897) The British Empire in the Ninteenth Century: Its Progress and Expansion at Home and Abroad. Blackie publishing. No ISBN digitalized doc from Stanford university</ref>.
==Politics==
[[Image:mtrproperty.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Corner of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road Central, in Central.]]
[[Image:VictoriaHarbour.jpg|thumb|250px|The night view of the Central and Western District]]
[[District Council of Hong Kong|District councils]] in Hong Kong are primarily consultative bodies of the [[Government of Hong Kong|HKSAR government]] with very limited powers, primarily restricted to building and maintaining parks, open areas, recreational and cultural activities and tourist promotion.
District council elections are held every four years; the last one was held on [[November 23]] [[2003]] for terms beginning [[January 1]], [[2004]]. 15 constituency members are elected while 4 are appointed by the government. The constituency areas are smaller than the commonly used geographic areas, which are in turn based on the old [[1857]] and [[1880]] divisions.
*[[Central, Hong Kong|Central]] (中環)
* [[Mid-Levels]] East (半山東)
* [[Castle Road, Hong Kong|Castle Road]] (衛城道)
* [[Victoria Peak|Peak]] (山頂)
* [[University]] (大學)
* [[Kennedy Town]] (堅尼地城) and Mount Davis (摩星嶺)
* [[Kwun Lung]] (觀龍)
* [[Sai Wan]] (西環)
* [[Belcher Bay|Belcher]] (寶翠)
* [[Shek Tong Tsui]] (石塘咀)
* [[Sai Ying Pun]] (西營盤)
* [[Tung Wah]] (東華)
* [[Centre Street (Hong Kong)|Centre Street]] (正街)
* [[Water Street, Hong Kong|Water Street]] (水街)
Current members are:
* CHAN Tak-chor (陳特楚)(chairman) ([[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal]])
* WU Chor-nam (胡楚南)(vice-chaiman) (appointed)
* CHAN Chit-kwai, Stephen (陳捷貴)
* LAM Kin-lai ([[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong|DAB]]) (appointed)
* CHAN Choi-hi, Dominic (陳財喜)
* CHENG Lai-king (鄭麗瓊)([[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]])
* LIN Mark ([[Liberal Party (Hong Kong)|Liberal]])
* CHUNG Yam-cheung ([[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong|DAB]])(appointed)
* TAI Cheuk-yin, Leslie Spencer
* HO Chun-ki (何俊麒)([[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]])
* Victor YEUNG (楊浩然)([[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]])
* [[Cyd Ho|Cyd HO Sau-lan]] (former [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|legislator]]) ([[The Frontier (Hong Kong)|The Frontier]])
* YEUNG Wai-foon ([[Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong|DAB]])
* KAM Nai-wai(甘乃威) ([[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]])
* YOUNG Siu-chuen, Albert (appointed)
* KWOK Ka-ki (郭家麒)
* YUEN Bun-keung (阮品強)([[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]])
* LAI Kwok-hung (黎國雄)
==Demographics==
Hong Kong's [[2001]] [[census]] put the total population of the district at 261,884, with 89,545 households. Among the 18 districts, Central and Western has the second highest median [[household income]] in the territory (HK$25,350 per month, behind only [[Wan Chai District]], and is at a par with Wan Chai in median monthly per capita income, at HK$13,000 per month. In terms of average size of households, it is third smallest at 2.8 persons, behind only Wan Chai and [[Yau Tsim Mong District]], at 2.7 each.
==Geography and political subdivisions==
The district is located at {{coor dms|22|17|00|N|114|09|00|E|}}, based on the location of the [[Hongkong Post|General Post Office]]). With an area of 12.4 km², the district occupies the northwestern portion of Hong Kong Island. It is surrounded by [[Wan Chai District]] on the east, [[Southern District, Hong Kong|Southern District]] on the south, and [[Victoria harbour]] in the north. The district also encompasses Green Island and Little Green Island, two uninhabited islands to the west of Hong Kong Island.
Areas from west to east along Victoria Harbour are: Kennedy Town, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Central, [[Admiralty, Hong Kong|Admiralty]].
Neighbourhoods within the district are listed from east to west.
==Admiralty==
* [[Queen's Road|Queensway]]
==Central==
{{main|Central, Hong Kong}}
'''Central''' is the business centre of Hong Kong, and many multinational [[financial services]] corporations have their headquarters there. The [[Government Hill]], the site of the government headquarters, is also in Central.
===Central mid-levels escalator===
[[Image:Esculator.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Central-Mid-Levels escalator, passing through Soho at Elgin Street]]
{{main|Central-Mid-Levels escalator}}
The '''Central-Mid-levels escalator''' in [[Hong Kong]] is the longest outdoor covered [[escalator]] system in the world. The system is 800 meters long, connecting [[Des Voeux Road]] Central, in [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]] with [[Conduit Road]] in the [[Mid-levels]], passing through narrow streets in [[Soho, Hong Kong|Soho]].
The escalator runs downhill from 6 am to 10 am and uphill from 10.20 am to 12.00 am ([[midnight]]) everyday. Apart from its significance in transport linkage, it is also a tourist attraction, with many [[restaurant]]s, [[bar (establishment)|bar]]s, and [[Retailing#Shops and Stores|shop]]s lining its route.
===Bank of China Tower===
{{main|Bank of China Tower}}
The '''Bank of China Tower''' in Central houses the headquarters of BOCHK. Designed by [[I. M. Pei]], the 70 storey building's height is 315 [[meter]]s with two masts reaching 369 meters. Construction began in [[1985]] and the building was completed in [[1989]]. It was the first building outside the [[United States]] to exceed 1,000 feet and to exceed 300 metres. It was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to [[1992]], when the nearby, taller [[Central Plaza]] was completed.
===City Hall===
{{main|City Hall, Hong Kong}}
Built in 1962, the City Hall complex housed the old central library of Hong Kong, as well as concert halls, restaurants and a marriage registry. The conference room of the former Urban Council was also at the lower building of the City Hall.
The garden at the north-western side of the complex includes a memorial to those killed in Hong Kong during World War II.
===Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building===
[[Image:94852 5992.jpg|thumb|250px|Connaught Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, heading towards (From the left), the City Hall, [[Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building]], and across the road Hong Kong Club Building. Central Plaza can be seen in the background.]]
{{main|Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building}}
The funnel-shaped '''Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building''' (formerly, and still commonly known as the '''Prince of Wales Building''') housed the headquarters of the British garrison in Hong Kong until the territory's handover to the People's Republic of China on [[June 30]], [[1997]]. It now houses the local [[garrison]] of the [[People's Liberation Army]] and is formally known as Central Barracks, in line with PLA convention for naming barracks after the name of the locality.
===Other landmarks===
* [[The Cenotaph (Hong Kong)|Cenotaph]], Hong Kong
* [[Chater Garden]]
* [[Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building]] (formerly the Prince of Wales Building)
* [[Edinburgh Place]], Hong Kong – including [[Queen's Pier]] and the [[Star Ferry]] pier
* [[Exchange Square (Hong Kong)|Exchange Square]]
* [[Former Supreme Court Building]]
* [[Harcourt Park]]
* [[Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens]]
* [[Hong Kong Club]]
* [[Hong Kong Park]]
* [[HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building]]
* [[International Finance Centre]]
* [[Jardine House]]
* [[Lan Kwai Fong]]
* [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council building]]
* [[Lippo Centre, Hong Kong|Lippo Centre]]
* [[Bank of China Building (Hong Kong)|Old Bank of China Building]]
* [[Peak Tram]] terminus
* [[St. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong]]
* [[St. Joseph Church, Hong Kong]]
* [[St. Paul's Church, Hong Kong]]
* [[St. Paul's Co-educational College]]
* [[Soho, Hong Kong|Soho]]
* [[Statue Square]]
* [[The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hong Kong]]
* [[Union Church, Hong Kong]]
[[Image:HKHSBCBuilding.jpg|thumb|300px|The Headquarter of HSBC is a landmark in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong]]
==Mid-levels==
* [[Government House, Hong Kong|Government House]]
==Sai Ying Pun==
* [[Sai Ying Pun Community Complex]]
==Sheung Wan==
* [[The Center, Hong Kong|The Center]]
==Secondary schools==
Arranged by alphabetical order of their full names in each category.
Government-administered schools
* [[King's College, Hong Kong|King's College]] [http://kings.school.net.hk/]
Aided schools
* [[Caritas St. Francis Secondary School]] [http://www.fps.edu.hk/]
* [[Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College]] [http://lstlkkc.school.net.hk/]
* [[Raimondi College, Hong Kong|Raimondi College]] [http://raimondi.school.net.hk/]
* [[St. Clare's Girls' School]] [http://stclare.school.net.hk/index.html]
* [[St. Joseph's College, Hong Kong|St. Joseph's College]] [http://sjc.edu.hk/]
* [[St. Louis School, Hong Kong|St. Louis School]] [http://www.stlouis.edu.hk/]
* [[St. Stephen's Church College]] [http://home.netteens.net/~sscc/]
* [[St. Stephen's Girls' College, Hong Kong|St. Stephen's Girls' College]] [http://www.ssgc.edu.hk/web/index.asp]
* [[Ying Wa Girls' School]] [http://www.ywgs.edu.hk/]
Schools under [[Direct Subsidy Scheme]] (DSS)
* [[Hon Wah Middle School]] [http://www.honwah.edu.hk/],[http://honwah.school.net.hk/]
* [[St. Margaret's Girls' College, Hong Kong]] [http://www.smgchk.edu.hk/]
* [[St. Paul's Co-educational College]] [http://spcc.school.net.hk/]
* [[St. Paul's College, Hong Kong|St. Paul's College]] [http://spc.hkcampus.net/]
International schools
* [[Carmel School (China)|Carmel School]] [http://www.carmel.edu.hk]
* [[German Swiss International School]] [http://www.gsis.edu.hk/]
* [[Island School]] [http://www.island.edu.hk/] (under funding of [[English Schools Foundation]], subsidized by government)
* [[Sear Rogers International School, Hong Kong Island]] [http://www.sear-rogers.com/sris/]
Vocational and night schools (privately-funded)
* [[Sacred Heart Canossian College of Commerce]] [http://www.shccc.edu.hk]
* [[St. Paul's College, Hong Kong|St. Paul's Secondary Evening School]]
==Tertiary institutions==
* [[The University of Hong Kong]]
* [[Caritas Francis Hsu College]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==See also==
* [[List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong]]
* [[Tourism in Hong Kong]]
==External links==
* [http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/central/english/welcome.htm Central and Western District Council]
* [http://www.eac.gov.hk/pdf/distco/2007dc/dc2007a.pdf List and map of electoral constituencies (large PDF file)]
* [http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/index.html Coordinates are courtesy of the GNS system of the [[National Imagery and Mapping Agency]]].
{{Hong Kong}}
[[Category:Central and Western District, Hong Kong| ]]
[[de:Central and Western]]
[[fr:Central and Western]]
[[he:אזור מרכז ומערב הונג קונג]]
[[nl:Central and Western District]]
[[ja:中西区 (香港)]]
[[sv:Centrala och västra Hongkong]]
[[zh-yue:中西區 (香港)]]
[[zh:中西區 (香港)]]