Consider this: Tseung Kwan O is more than just a place. It is a story etched in the landscape of Hong Kong. Tseung Kwan O began as a bay in Sai Kung District. It is now a vibrant new town.
The name Tseung Kwan O carries its own mystery. Tseung Kwan means general. O means bay. So, Tseung Kwan O translates to General’s Bay. One theory suggests the name honors a Ming Dynasty soldier. Another links it to naval battles against Japanese pirates in the 17th century. Still another connects it to how “Tseung Kwan” sounded to English speakers. They might have heard “Junk Wan”.
Before skyscrapers dotted the skyline, fishing towns thrived here. Settlements existed as early as the 13th century. By the late 16th century, small fishing villages emerged. Hang Hau rose to prominence as a bustling market town. It became the most prosperous place on the Clear Water Bay Peninsula.
The English name, Junk Bay, hints at the bay’s past. Some believe it refers to junks, or ships, once common in these waters. But junk does not refer to detritus deposited there in recent years. That is a misconception. The first landfill opened in 1978, long after Junk Bay got its name. Fat Tong Chau or Junk Island sits in the bay’s southeast corner.
The Hong Kong Government saw promise in Hang Hau’s proximity to the urban area. Reclamation challenges delayed the project for years. Tseung Kwan O finally took shape. Today, Tseung Kwan O spans about 1,790 hectares. The area was planned to house 490,000 people.
Tseung Kwan O boasts a modern infrastructure. Development of Phase I began in 1983. The goal was to house 175,000 people. The Tseung Kwan O Tunnel began construction in 1986. It paved the way for further population growth. Phase II followed, raising the projected population to 325,000. Phase III aimed for 490,000 residents. This phase included redeveloping the Tiu Keng Leng Cottage Area. It also added the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate.
Tseung Kwan O comprises five main areas. These are Po Lam, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, Tiu Keng Leng, and LOHAS Park. Each area has its own MTR station.
The climate of Tseung Kwan O is humid subtropical. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild and dry. The average daily temperature is 25.6 degrees Celsius. Rainfall averages over 2,400 mm per year.
Today, Tseung Kwan O is a testament to Hong Kong’s ambition. It transformed from a quiet bay into a bustling new town. The story of Tseung Kwan O is one of constant evolution. From fishing villages to modern city.