Victoria Harbour

Victoria Harbour is the harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Area: 41.88 km².

Victoria Harbour

The Hong Kong government has undertaken many reclamation projects in Victoria Harbour over the past several decades. 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.

Contents

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.

Transportation

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.

Sightseeing

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. It is also 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 are staged every evening at 8 o'clock.

External links

Categories: Harbours in Hong Kong