Remember Rennie’s Mill. It is now known as Tiu Keng Leng Pier. This pier stands as a silent witness to a tumultuous past.
Tiu Keng Leng Pier is more than just a place to catch a ferry. It is a landmark steeped in history and resilience. Today we will uncover the layers of stories of Tiu Keng Leng Pier.
The area was once called “Chiu Keng Leng”. This means ridge of mirror reflection. The name came from the clearness of the bay.
Later it was linked to a Canadian businessman. His name was Alfred Herbert Rennie. He established the Hong Kong Milling Company at Junk Bay. The business failed. Rennie drowned himself in 1908. It was mistakenly reported that he hanged himself. The Chinese name for the site became Hanging Neck Ridge. Because it was inauspicious the name was changed. It became Tiu Keng Leng. This means ridge of adjusting situation.
In 1950, the Hong Kong Government settled refugees here. They were former Nationalist soldiers. They were Kuomintang supporters. They had escaped from mainland China. The area became a bastion against communism. It was even nicknamed Little Taiwan. The flag of the Republic of China flew high.
Typhoon Wanda damaged Rennie’s Mill badly in 1962. Many people became homeless.
In 1996 the government evicted the original residents. This made room for new town developments. It was widely believed to please the Chinese government. This was before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.
After the handover the English name changed. Rennie’s Mill became Tiu Keng Leng. It was redeveloped into a modern residential district.
Before redevelopment Tiu Keng Leng was hard to reach. Po Lam Road South was winding and narrow. In 2001 a segment of Po Lam Road South was rebuilt. It became O King Road. It was the first road connection to modern Tiu Keng Leng.
Tiu Keng Leng station opened in 2002. It provided a much-used link to Kowloon.
Today Tiu Keng Leng Pier stands as a reminder. It symbolizes change. It embodies resilience. It whispers tales of refugees and reinvention. It reflects Hong Kong’s ever-evolving story. Take a moment to reflect on the past as you gaze out from Tiu Keng Leng Pier.