The Eastern District (Chinese: 東區; Jyutping: dung1 keoi1) is one of the 18 administrative districts of Hong Kong, located on the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 529,603 in 2021. The district has the second highest population, and its residents have the third highest median household income among the 18 districts.
The Eastern District is well-developed, with a complete public transport and transport network, including subway, bus, ferry, minibus and tram services, while the Island Eastern Corridor and the Eastern Harbour Crossing are important arteries for external traffic. There are comprehensive educational, medical, community and recreational facilities in the area, as well as large shopping malls and commercial centres. At the same time, there are also many historical and cultural attractions in the Eastern District, which are good places for citizens and tourists to relax and entertain.
As the Hong Kong Government is determined to develop the Eastern District, many government departments such as the Customs and Excise Department, Fire Services Department, ICAC and the Water Supplies Department, have moved their headquarters and offices from Central and Wan Chai to the Eastern District. In addition, many multinational corporations from Central have moved to Taikoo Place, which has formed to become a new central business district. As such the Eastern District has undertaken some functions of being a political and economic centre in Hong Kong, which had only belonged to Central and Wan Chai.
Contents
Geography
It is located in the northeastern part of the Hong Kong Island and includes the areas of Fortress Hill, North Point, Braemar Hill, Quarry Bay, Tai Koo Shing, Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan.
The eastern portion of Causeway Bay and Tin Hau were once in Eastern District, but were moved to Wan Chai District on 1 January 2016.
History
Originally a backwater of fishing villages, quarries and dockyards, there are archaeological evidence there were villages and small towns appeared during the Song dynasty (AD 960–1279).
The Eastern District is now mostly residential, with some industrial areas and several large shopping malls. While mostly Home Ownership Scheme and public housing estates are located from Sai Wan Ho to Chai Wan, large private housing estates are also located within the eastern district, such as Taikoo Shing, Kornhill and Heng Fa Chuen. A commercial hub has been developed from the former industrial areas in western part of Quarry Bay. Hotels and commercial buildings are also developed near Fortress Hill along the coast.
In the past the district was linked by a single traffic artery, King's Road, which was notoriously congested during peak hours. This was largely resolved by the construction of the Island Eastern Corridor and the Island line within the MTR rapid transit system in the 1980s. It also contains the tram line, now over 100 years old, that runs near the sea shore from Shau Kei Wan west towards other districts.
Demographics
According to the ninth survey of Hong Kong millionaires conducted by Citibank (Hong Kong) and The University of Hong Kong from November 2011 to January 2012, Eastern District is the area with the most millionaires in Hong Kong.
Also, according to the 2021 Population Census in Hong Kong, the population information of the Eastern District is as follows:
Community
Public estate under Home Ownership Scheme
Public estates under Home Ownership Scheme in the Eastern District are mainly concentrated in Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan.
Public housing estates
The public housing estates in the Eastern District are mainly concentrated in Shau Kei Wan, Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan.
Shopping malls
Cityplaza
Kornhill Plaza
Island Resort Mall
Island Place Mall
Paradise Mall
Harbour North
New Jade Shopping Arcade
Commercial buildings
The offices of many multinational corporations like LVMH and BNP Paribas are located in the area of Eastern District, such as Taikoo Place, which makes the East District take over the functions of the new core business district and economic centre.
Taikoo Place: One of the Central Business District in Hong Kong, where the commercial buildings include: One Island East, Devon House, Dorset House, Cambridge House, Lincoln House, Oxford House, Westlands Centre, Berkshire House, One Taikoo Place and Two Taikoo Place.
Cityplaza
AIA Tower
K11 ATELIER King's Road
625 King's Road
Chinachem Exchange Square
Two Chinachem Exchange Square
AIA Hong Kong Tower
K. Wah Centre
Kerry Centre
E-Trade Plaza
Harbour East
Government and judiciary organisations
As the Government of Hong Kong is determined to develop the Eastern District, many government departments have moved from Central and Wan Chai to the Eastern District, including many headquarters buildings, so that the Eastern District has undertaken some functions of the political centre that originally belonged to other districts.
ICAC Building
Customs Headquarters Building
Water Supplies Department Hong Kong Regional Building
Marine Regional Headquarters
Fire Services Headquarters Building
Eastern Law Courts Building
North Point Government Offices (including headquarters of Lands Department, Planning Department Headquarters, Town Planning Board, Government Logistics Department)
New Jade Garden Government Offices
Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Headquarters
Employees Retraining Board Headquarters
Water Supplies Department Headquarters with Hong Kong and Islands Regional Office and Correctional Services Department Headquarters Building in Chai Wan (expected to be completed in 2024–25)
Chai Wan Government Complex and Vehicle Depot (expected to be completed in 2024–25)
In addition, the Securities and Futures Commission is headquartered in Taikoo PlaceOne Island East, the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council is headquartered in Two Taikoo Place, Hong Kong Housing Society is headquartered at 1063 King's Road, Consumer Council is headquartered in K. Wah Centre, Tourism Commission is headquartered in Harbour East, Fortress Hill, and Estate Agents Authority is headquartered in E-Trade Plaza, Chai Wan.
Public facilities
Education
Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Chai Wan)
Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
School for Higher and Professional Education
HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) - Island East Campus & Fortress Tower Learning Centre
Hong Kong Art School - Shau Kei Wan Campus & Chai Wan Campus
Secondary education
Primary education
International schools
Quarry Bay School
Chinese International School
French International School
DSC International School Hong Kong
Korean International School
Carmel School of Hong Kong
Special schools
Po Leung Kuk Yu Lee Mo Fan Memorial School
R.c.h.k. Island West Hong Chi Morninghope School
Caritas Lok Yi School
Hong Kong Public Libraries operates the Chai Wan, Electric Road (North Point address), North Point, Quarry Bay, Siu Sai Wan, and Yiu Tung (in Shau Kei Wan) libraries.
Medical services
Public clinic
Lady Robert Black Clinic
Chai Wan Maternal and Child Health Centre
Sai Wan Ho Health Centre
Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club Clinic
Wan Tsui Government Clinic
Public hospitals (Hong Kong East Cluster)
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital – Regional acute hospital with comprehensive specialty services
Private clinic
HKSH Eastern Medical Centre
Tourist attractions
Economic development
Commercial
Commercial buildings and hotels in the Eastern District are concentrated in Fortress Hill, Taikoo Shing and Quarry Bay. The main building is Taikoo Place, the tallest in the Eastern District since April 2008 SkyscraperHong Kong Island East Center Occupied in stages.
Industrial
Industrial buildings are concentrated in the east of North Point, Chai Wan Pier and Chai Wan Road near the MTR station.
Household income
North Point, Quarry Bay and Sai Wan Ho are one of the most expensive urban residential areas in traditional locations, with convenient transportation and the fourth highest median income in Hong Kong. There are 15 public housing estates in Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan, and 23 HOS housing estates, resulting in a large income gap within the Eastern District. However, public housing has also injected grassroots labour into the Eastern District, enabling the middle-class population in the Eastern District to enjoy cheaper services, so the urban planning of the Eastern District has been very successful.