You may have heard that New World Development has purchased all units of several building blocks on Kai Yuen Upper & Lower Lane, up on a hill well tucked in from the hustle and bustle of North Point, behind Tsat Tze Mui Road intersecting with Tin Chiu Street.
Personally I see that as a real shame, as it is another invasion by the real estate industry into the 1950's and 1960's residential construction. New World Development is planning to construct 8 blocks of 27-28 stories' building (ex. entrance and car park levels), up to 120 meters high, 1,346 units housing 4,038 people. I really hope that this massive construction project would not collapse the hillside.
Some research on the internet reveals that Kai Yuen Terrace was owned by a renowned Chan family in Hong Kong - Chan Wei Chow 陈维周 who had garden villas on the hill. Famous novelist Eileen Chang 张爱玲 also lived on 辉浓楼 on Kai Yuen Street during her brief stay in Hong Kong. Besides that, not a lot of information has been found.
It would be great if someone can share your knowledge, photos on this hidden treasure in North Point.
Comments
Kai Yuen
HI CL - I don't think I've been there before but it looks a great area (as it stands). I'm guessing you mean these buildings here:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Kai+Yuen+St,+North+Point,+Hong+Kong&sll=22.396428,114.109497&sspn=1.011933,1.231842&gl=uk&g=Hong+Kong&ie=UTF8&cd=3&geocode=FRQfVAEdy5rOBg&split=0&hq=&hnear=Kai+Yuen+St,+Hong+Kong&ll=22.289513,114.203728&spn=0,359.990376&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=22.2895,114.203818&panoid=vIxN_mZx_3SCX9a3BpH72Q&cbp=12,279.17,,0,-8.44
Kai Yuen Street, Kai Yuen Terrace
Hi 80s Kid, many thanks for the link, it's so cool.
The area which will be redeveloped is actually on the left hand side of the street from where the wooden planks are - Kai Yuen Upper & Lower Lane.
As of now, the buildings on the same side of the street where the wooden planks are will remain.
Here's a link from a Hong Kong magazine (in Chinese) covering the land purchase & redevelopment. It indicates clearly which part of Kai Yuen will be redeveloped.
http://www.eastweek.com.hk/index.php?link=content_detail&article_id=5788
A look into Kai Yuen Upper & Lower Lane would be wonderful.
Upper Kai Yuen Steet
I am saddened by all this development in HK. Upper Kai Yuen Street was home to my family in the early 60s. The residents there were all so friendly, it had a real sense of community. We lived next door to a famous chinese artist who had a wonderful collection of sculptures and antiquities in his home together with a pet parakeet in his back yard. Another neighbour had a small waterfeature using the natural flow of water from the mountain side with miniature figurines set within the rocks, flora and fauna. I believe they owned an American pink Cadillac, and what fun we had all piled in and off to the beach! I think there was a retired famous martial's art actor living there too! I remember it with such fond memories.