In the 1960s, Tseung Kwan O experienced a surge in industrial activities, particularly in shipbuilding, ship repairing, ship breaking, and steel rolling. Other industries, such as casting non-ferrous metals and producing industrial gases, also thrived, relying heavily on water transportation. However, with the government’s approval of Tseung Kwan O’s development as a new town in 1982, these industries gradually declined or relocated to other areas.
By the mid-to-late 1980s, the Hong Kong government undertook significant land reclamation and development efforts in Tseung Kwan O, establishing it as the seventh new town in Hong Kong, where involves total development area of Tseung Kwan O is about 1720 hectares for a planned population of 450 000. The construction of the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel started in September 1987 and ended in 1990 connected East Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, serving as a vital transportation link for the new town.
Before and After Comparison of Tiu Keng Leng (Photo: Before- HKJC After-Cherrie Lee)
Tseung Kwan O’s development is divided into three phases: the first phase includes Po Lam, Tsui Lam, and Hong Sing Garden; the second phase comprises Tseung Kwan O City Center and Hang Hau; and the third phase is Tiu Keng Leng. As the town expanded, it also became a significant landfill site for waste disposal. The first and second phases of the Tseung Kwan O landfill were opened successively, with the latter still in operation. Despite the closure of the first two phases, there are still active SENT landfills in the area, reflecting the substantial waste management needs of Tseung Kwan O compared to other parts of Hong Kong.
In recent years, Tseung Kwan O has emerged as a key development area for the Hong Kong government, with the completion of various facilities such as the Hong Kong Velodrome and the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. The construction of the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel, which is finished in 2022, significantly reduces the travel time from the city center to the Eastern Submarine Tunnel. The journey now takes 5 minutes, a significant improvement from the previous travel time.
Recent Urban Planning Projects
Transporation projects
For the current urban planning development of Tseung Kwan O, there are transportation contructions connecting Tseung Kwan O to other areas, which includes Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, Baolin Road, Clear Water Bay Road, and the Tseung Kwan O Branch of the underground railway. Tseung Kwan O, Lam Tin Tunnel and Cross Bay Link has been opened since 2022. It has enhanced the connectivity between Tseung Kwan O and East Kowloon to meet the growing traffic demand, such as the annual vehicular flow through the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel in Hong Kong has reached a considerable degree by taking reference from 2013 to 2019 that shown by the below figure.
The Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link was completed at the end of 2022. It is the first cross bay link in Hong Kong to have both lanes, pedestrian roads, bicycle paths and observation platforms. The 5-kilometers bicycle path forms a ring connecting the Tseung Kwan O South Waterfront Promenade and LOHAS Park, which help relieving traffic congestion within the TKO town center and along Wan Po Road, and minimize environmental impact on local residents, and reduced the journey time by about 20 minutes.
Recreational projects
The consturction of the Tseung Kwan O Promenade Southern Bridge was completed and opened to the public on 2 February 2024. The bridge is made of S690QL high-strength steel and feaures a wavy bridge body and arch design, giving it a delicate and beautiful appearance. The construction of the bridge adopts the assembly bridge construction technology of off-site overall assembly and on-site hoisting.
The Tseung Kwan O 68 District Town Park is currently under construction and expected to be completed this year. The park is connected to Tseung Kwan O Waterfront Park in the south and covers an area of 3.9 hectares. Its facilities include a koo park, a children’s play area, a children’s cycling park, fitness facilities, a jogging track, a basketball court and a large central lawn. It adopts the concept of “sponge city” design, collecting rainwater through rain gardens, reservoirs, grasslands, permeable materials in the park. This design ensure the rainwater will be released when necessary to avoid flooding.
The Tseung Kwan O Seawater Desalination Plant (TKOSDP), which has commenced water supply services since 22 December 2023, aims to provide Hong Kong with a reliable water source that is not affected by climate change. The plant is the first water facility in Hong Kong to adopt advanced reverse osmosis seawater desalination technology. This new water supply service raises the daily water output up to 135,000 cubic meters, accounting for approximately 5% of Hong Kong’s water consumption.
Residential Projects
LOHAS Park, located in Tseung Kwan O Area 86, is a 330,000 m2 seaside private residential development by the MTR Corporation. The name ”LOHAS” stands for the “lifestyle of health and sustainability”, which is also the development goal of LOHAS Park. The development is divided into 13 phases, is now progressing under the 12 phase. It comprises 50 high-rise residential towers and 21,500 apartments to accommodate 58,000 residents, which are expected to be completed before 2025.
Additionally, 3 shopping malls are under construction, including “THE LOHAS”, a 480,000-sqare-foot shopping mall that is opened in 2020. It features the largest indoor ice-skating rink in Hong Kong and the largest cinema in Tseung Kwan O.
In terms of environmental development, a 1,000,000 square feet of green area is proposed, including a 200,000-square-foot central park named The Park with pet recreation facilities, icon building, waterfalls, and lawns. It aims to promote sustainable green living through different green features such as grey water recycing and renewable energy sources.
Lee Kong Sing, the Chief Project Manager at MTR, oversees the construction and development of Lohas Park, said “ LOHAS Park is developed and designed as an integrated community rather than a single building. A large area of urban planning development creates a self-sustainable estate between living and environment compared to a single building.”
“We utilize the treated wastewater from kitchens for irrigation and planting purposes. This practice not only helps conserve the environment but also promotes sustainable living within a community.”
-Lee Kong Sing, Chief Project Manager at MTR
Future Projects
Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Project
The Civil Engineering and Development Department signed a consultancy contract valued about 18.2 million HKD on 14 November, 2023 that brings out exploration, research, design and construction of Tseung Kwan O Area 137 and the related reclamation land. Tseung Kwan O (TKO) Area 137 project aimed to increase land and housing supply by developing a high-density residential area in TKO Area 137. In order to meet the growing demands for residential and commercial spaces in Tseung Kwan O, TKO Area 137 is planned with a total area of 101 ha with approximately 20 ha of land will be reclaimed from the existing barging basin and along the shore line.
Comparing the present TKO 137 Temporary Fill Bank and the Artistic Impression for TKO 137 in 2030 (Source: LC paper)
This project aims to provide a well-developed transport network, ancillary facilities and green and livable environment. Upon the 2022 Policy Address, the government planned to provide about 50,000 residential units including 70% of public housing and 30% of private housing by 2030. It aims to accommodate a total population of around 135,000 upon completion in the area of Tseung Kwan O Area 137.
It is proposed that 25 ha of land created off from TKO 132 area accommodate 6 public facilities including public fill transfer facility, concrete batching plant, electricity facilities, construction waste handling facility, refuse transfer station and marine refuse collection point. The TKO 137 construction and TKO 132 reclamation work will commence in 2025, targeting to enable the first population intake in TKO Area 137 by 2030.
To support the development and living of TKO residents, TKO-Yau Tong Tunnel and the Tseung Kwan O Line Southern Extension (TKOLSE) was recommended to serve as newly proposed rail and road links under the Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Road beyond 2030. MTR’s Tseung Kwan O Line is proposed to extend southwards from LOHAS Station to TKO Area 137. Additionally, public transport interchange and cycling tracks are provided at TKO 137. It is expected to improve the external connectivity and convenience of TKO.
Inconvenient transportation
The suggested development plan for “Tseung Kwan O Area 137” has sparked controversies, particularly regarding transportation. Despite the planned construction of the “Tseung Kwan O Line South Extension” and “Tseung Kwan O Yau Tong Tunnel,” there are concerns that these measures alone may not sufficiently address the transportation challenges posed by the growing population.
Additionally, the infrequent train service to LOHAS Park further exacerbates the inconvenience faced by residents. On averagem trains to LOHAS Park is around 8-10 minutes during normal hours and every 7 minutes during peak hours. The service terminates at Tiu Keng Leng, requiring residents transfer to another train if they wish to cross the Harbour. The insufficiency of transportation infrastructure remains a pressing issue in the area. It is foreseeable that Tseung Kwan O Area 137 may encounter similar transportation challenges in the future. Given the ongoing controversies surrounding transportation in the area and the potential increase in population, there is a concern that the existing transportation infrastructure may not be able to adequately support the needs of the residents.
There are suggestions to construct a cross-harbour rail link or tunnel directly connects Tseung Kwan O Area 137 to the Eastern District. However, the government emphasize the need for careful research, as such construction would cause significant cost and potential harm to the social environment.
“The government hasn’t had a concrete plan on Tseung Kwan O Area 137 but we can foresee that TKO Area 137 can attract people to live in the future. It is essential to improve the transportation including extending the TKO line and also increase the train frequency to LOHAS Park and TKO Area 137 in order to support the growing demand.” said Lee Kong Sing.
However, Lee pointed out that Tseung Kwan O Southern extensions will only be built 2 years after first population intake in TKO Area 137 to ensure there is a demand for the train service.
Curtise Lee, a surveyor living in Lohas Park, commented on the transportation in LOHAS Park “I did not get used to the train frequency at first, as we have to wait 7 minutes during peak hours and 10 minutes during normal hours. There are very few buses available nearby as well. The transportation options in LOHAS Park are quite inconvenient and lack variety.’
Environmental Problem
Additionally, the environmental problems caused by construction and reclamation should be addressed. Tseung Kwan O residents have been expressing their concerns that the near-shore reclamation and railway extension works will have negative impact on their living.
80 Tseung Kwan O residents held a protest demanding an end to further reclamation in their living place on 3rd April, 2023. The protest was initiated because of the construction of six public facilities in TKO Area 132, which is located 1km away from where they are living.
‘No cement plant, no garbage disposal plant.’
-TKO citizens marched with banners
TKO residents complained that constructing public facilities will cause pollution and worsen their quality of life. Regarding the ongoing reclamation of land in the TKO area, residents complained that building public facilities in their neighborhood affects them.
On the other hand, the Development Bureau said that they are open to explore options for minimizing the extent of reclamation through slope-cutting methods. Additionally, the feasibility of relocating certain facilities into caverns will be accessed. The government will ensure that the design, appearance, and operations of the facilities are not easily noticed and do not cause any inconvenience or disturbance to the local community.
Having the landfill in Tseung Kwan O already, I cannot imagine it would be like when more waste handling site will be built nearby.
-Cherry Kwan, 20-year resident living in Ocean Shores
Cherry Kwan, a 20-year resident living in Ocean Shores said ,’I have been living in Tiu Keng Leng since I was born and I have been witnessing the ongoing reclamation in Tseung Kwan O throughout these 20 years. The seaview in my living room has gradually transformed into land and there is dust everywhere of my home even it is cleaned every day. Also, the project deadline always delayed by years not to mention the landfill in TKO already. It causes strong smell when it is summer.’
Curtise also shared a similar view with Cherry concerning the building of obnoxious facilities in TKO. “Although the site will be 1km away from the residence area, pollution and environmental problem is still a concern to us. We hope the government can do some measures or relocate the facilities to prevent the intensification of disturbance and pollution of TKO,” added Curtise.
“There was unstoppable project and engineer work in TKO which makes me have had enough of loud noises and pollution. I mainly concern about the environmental problems and poor air quality in TKO. It will be better if relocating the facilities near Ocean Shores,” said Cherry.
On the other hand, Lee Kong Sing shared a different perspective, suggesting that TKO Area 137 has the potential to promote long-term sustainable living, provided there is an increase in housing supply like the plan of Lohas Park. He believes that proper planning and consideration of green initiatives, the area can accommodate a larger population while maintaining a focus on environmental sustainability.
Tang Po Sin, Honarary Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the University of Hong Kong said, “TKO area 137 development has to compy with necessary planning, design, traffic, building and environmental requirements before it can proceed. Although all development will have impact on natural resources, it is essential to investigate whether the adverse impact could be imitigated and reduced. This can be achieved through careful studies before actual implementation.”
“Under a proper planning and consideration of green initiatives, this approach would aim to strike a balance between meeting housing demands and preserving the natural environment. Although TKO residents may face short-term disturbance and construction work, it is essential to consider the long-term potentials and benefits which will bring to Hong Kong, ” said Lee.
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