Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Encyclopedia
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter is a typhoon shelter
located in Causeway Bay
, Hong Kong
, between the Hong Kong Island
entrance of Cross Harbour Tunnel on Kellett Island
and Island Eastern Corridor
. Its size is about 14 hectares (35 acres). It was the first typhoon shelter in Hong Kong.
, to provide shelter for fishing boats during storms. It was completed in 1883 with a breakwater
only 427 metres (1,400 feet) long. The cost was HK$96,500.
In December 1903 a Legislative Council
member, Gershom Stewart, suggested that the typhoon shelter be expanded. The motion was passed but expansion works could not be carried out due to lack of capital. The Legislative Council and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce questioned the Hong Kong Government
on the expansion in 1904 and 1906, but the Government did not give any response.
On 18 September 1906, a typhoon struck Hong Kong, destroying 3,653 boats and killing 15,000 people, most of them fishermen. In March 1908 the Government finally carried out expansion works on the typhoon shelter, deepening it by 3 metres (9 feet) and expanded it to 30 hectares (75 acres).
In 1953 the typhoon shelter was moved northwards to its present site and the original typhoon shelter was reclaimed to provide land for Victoria Park. The new typhoon shelter had a size of 26 hectares (65 acres). However, reclamation projects which started in the typhoon shelter during the late 1960s to construct the Cross Harbour Tunnel decreased the size of the typhoon shelter.
, exceeding 1000 times the baseline concentration measured in the East Lamma Channel
.
To the south:
To the east:
Typhoon shelter
A typhoon shelter is a shelter for fishing boats during typhoons. These facilities are often found in Hong Kong.-Structure:In its usual form, a typhoon shelter is usually in the form of a bay or a cove, with a narrow opening for access, as most of the opening to the seas are blocked by a man-made...
located in Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, located on the Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts. The Chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan as in Tung Lo Wan Road...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, between the Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
entrance of Cross Harbour Tunnel on Kellett Island
Kellett Island
Kellett Island is a former island off East Point in Hong Kong. It is now connected to Hong Kong Island at Causeway Bay following land reclamation in 1969....
and Island Eastern Corridor
Island Eastern Corridor
Island Eastern Corridor is an expressway along the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It starts from Causeway Bay in the west and ends in Chai Wan in the east. It is part of Route 4...
. Its size is about 14 hectares (35 acres). It was the first typhoon shelter in Hong Kong.
History
The original typhoon shelter was built after the 1874 typhoon, at the present location of Victoria ParkVictoria Park, Hong Kong
Victoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
, to provide shelter for fishing boats during storms. It was completed in 1883 with a breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
only 427 metres (1,400 feet) long. The cost was HK$96,500.
In December 1903 a Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
member, Gershom Stewart, suggested that the typhoon shelter be expanded. The motion was passed but expansion works could not be carried out due to lack of capital. The Legislative Council and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce questioned the Hong Kong Government
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
on the expansion in 1904 and 1906, but the Government did not give any response.
On 18 September 1906, a typhoon struck Hong Kong, destroying 3,653 boats and killing 15,000 people, most of them fishermen. In March 1908 the Government finally carried out expansion works on the typhoon shelter, deepening it by 3 metres (9 feet) and expanded it to 30 hectares (75 acres).
In 1953 the typhoon shelter was moved northwards to its present site and the original typhoon shelter was reclaimed to provide land for Victoria Park. The new typhoon shelter had a size of 26 hectares (65 acres). However, reclamation projects which started in the typhoon shelter during the late 1960s to construct the Cross Harbour Tunnel decreased the size of the typhoon shelter.
Environmental concerns
A 2005 Government report singled out the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter as having "exceptionally high levels" of tributyltinTributyltin
Tributyltin compounds are a group of compounds containing the 3Sn moiety, such as tributyltin hydride or tributyltin oxide. They are the main active ingredients in certain biocides used to control a broad spectrum of organisms...
, exceeding 1000 times the baseline concentration measured in the East Lamma Channel
East Lamma Channel
The East Lamma Channel is a sea channel in Hong Kong. It lies between the western shores of Hong Kong Island and Ap Lei Chau, and the east side of Lamma Island. To the north it leads into the Sulphur Channel and Victoria Harbour, to the south into the South China Sea...
.
Surrounding roads
To the west:- Cross Harbour Tunnel
To the south:
- Gloucester RoadGloucester Road, Hong KongGloucester Road is a major road in Hong Kong. It is in the north of Wan Chai and East Point on Hong Kong Island. It connects to Harcourt Road at its western end and it ends east along west side of Victoria Park. It forms part of Hong Kong's Route 4 and connects to the Island Eastern Corridor via...
- Victoria Park RoadVictoria Park RoadVictoria Park Road is a road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong that is part of Route 4. It starts in the junction of Route 1 and ends in Hing Fat Street. The road has its name because it is situated on the northern side of Victoria Park....
To the east:
- Island Eastern CorridorIsland Eastern CorridorIsland Eastern Corridor is an expressway along the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It starts from Causeway Bay in the west and ends in Chai Wan in the east. It is part of Route 4...
Notable places nearby
- Royal Hong Kong Yacht ClubRoyal Hong Kong Yacht ClubThe Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is a Hong Kong sports club for sailing and rowing.Founded as Hong Kong Corinthian Sailing Club in 1890 and became the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in 1894....
- Noon-day GunNoon-day GunThe Noonday Gun is a former naval artillery mounted on a small enclosed site near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Owned and operated by Jardine Matheson, the gun is fired every day at noon and is a tourist attraction....
- The Excelsior
- Victoria ParkVictoria Park, Hong KongVictoria Park is a public park in Hong Kong, named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island, between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations...
- Shelter Street, south of Victoria Park reminds of the original typhoon shelter