Central, Hong Kong

Central (also Central District; formerly Choong Wan or Chung Wan) is an area on the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. It is the central business district of Hong Kong, and many multinational financial services corporations have their headquarters in the area. Consulates general and consulates of many countries are also located in this area, as is Government Hill, the site of the government headquarters. The area, with its proximity to Victoria Harbour, has served as the centre of trade and financial activities from the earliest day of British colonial era in 1841, and continues to flourish and serve as the administrative centre after the transfer of soverignty to China in 1997. The area is the heart of Victoria City, although that name is rarely used today.

In district council elections, the area belongs to Central and Western District, together with its western counterparts Sheung Wan, Mid-levels, Sai Wan, Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui and Kennedy Town.

The eastern part of Central District has been known as Admiralty since the completion of MTR Admiralty Station in the early 1980s.

Naming

中環 (Chong Wan) was one of the districts (四環九約) in the Victoria City. The English name Central became prevalent after the Island Line of the MTR metro system was built in early 1980s, and the connected stations of Pedder and Chater renamed as Central.

History

Before 1841, the area was seldom mentioned in historical record or maps. Some older map named it and its west as Kwan Tai Lo (羣帶路) below the Victoria Peak. It formed a channel, Chung Mun (中門), with Tsim Sha Tsui, on the sea route along the coast of the southern China.

The British landed on Possession Point of Sheung Wan in 1841. They soon decided to build a city on the north coast of Hong Kong Island, and the present-day Central was chosen to house major military facilities and administrative centre. The area soon attracted both Westerners and Chinese to trade and live in the area, and a Canton Bazaar (precursor of Central Market) was built between Cochrane Street and Graham Street in 1842. The area was soon zoned for Westerners only, and the Chinese residents were resited to Sheung Wan.

Government House and other Hong Kong Government buildings were completed during this period on Government Hill. Various barracks and naval base, and the residence of Commander, Flagstaff House were built on the east end of the district. The military structures survived until the 1980s. Only Flagstaff House remains as Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park. City Hall sat on the present premises of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters. Hong Kong's first road, Queen's Road, passes through the area and the business centre continued to expand toward the shoreline as far as the reclaimed lands.

Demographics

Most Hong Kong residents know the area as the main financial district of Hong Kong, although many parts of the area are indeed residential, especially the slope below the Mid-levels.