Wikipedia

Mong Kok

Mong Kok(also spelledMongkok,often abbreviated asMK) is an area inKowloon,Hong Kong.ThePrince Edwardsubarea occupies the northern part of Mong Kok.

Mong Kok
Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok
ChineseVượngGiác
Literal meaningflourishing/busy corner
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWàngjiǎo
Wade–Gileswang4 chiao3
Hakka
Romanizationvong4 gok5
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWohng Gok
JyutpingWong6 Gok3
IPA[wɔ̀ːŋkɔ̄ːk]
Aerial view of Mong Kok
Argyle Streetin Mong Kok

Mong Kok is one of the major shopping areas in Hong Kong. The area is characterised by a mixture of old and new multi-story buildings, with shops and restaurants at street level, and commercial or residential units above. Major industries in Mong Kok are retail, restaurants (including fast food) and entertainment. It has been described[1]and portrayed in films as an area in whichtriadsrun bars, nightclubs, andmassage parlours.With its extremely high population density of 130,000/km2(340,000/sq mi), Mong Kok was described as the busiest district in the world by theGuinness World Records.[2]

Name

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Until 1930, the area was calledMong Kok Tsui(Mang giác chủy).[3]The current English name is atransliterationof its older Chinese nameVọng giác(Jyutping:mong6gok3;IPA:[mɔːŋ˨kɔːk˧]), orMang giác(Jyutping:mong4gok3;IPA:[mɔːŋ˨˩kɔːk˧]), which is named for its plentiful supply offernsin the past when it was a coastal region. Its present Chinese name, "Vượng giác"(Jyutping:wong6gok3;IPA:[wɔːŋ˨kɔːk˧]), means "prosperous corner" or "crowded corner"; however, the English name did not change.

For a period, the area was also called Argyle, and this name was used forthe MTR stationwhen it opened in 1979. The office buildingMong Kok Centre[zh],which was named after the area, is known in English as Argyle Centre.

Administration

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Mong Kok is part ofYau Tsim Mong District.It was part of theMong Kok Districtbefore the district was merged in 1994. The area belongs to theKowloon Westgeographical constituencyof theLegislative Council of Hong Kong.

History

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Displays at theChinese University of Hong Konginclude antique potteries indicating that there might have been settlements in the area as early as the western Han dynasty (206 BC to AD 8 ) toJin Dynasty (266–420).[4]

The area used to be aHakkasettlement, with about 200 villagers according toBao'anrecords in 1819.[5]

The heart of the present-day Mong Kok is alongArgyle StreetnearSai Yeung Choi Streetwhilst the proper Mong Kok used to be[when?]to the north, near the present-dayMong Kok East station.Mong Kok was an area of cultivated lands, bounded to the south by Argyle Street, to the west by Coronation Road (a section of present-dayNathan Road), and to the east by hills. To the southeast of Mong Kok isHo Man Tinand to the westTai Kok Tsui.

On 10 August 2008, theCornwall Court firebroke out. More than 200 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. Four people died, including two firefighters.[6]

Mong Kok received a lot of negative media attention for manyacid attacksonSai Yeung Choi Streetfrom December 2008 through January 2010.

The area was the site of protracted demonstrations during the2014 Hong Kong protests,including thegau wucampaign, and was also the site of the2016 Mong Kok civil unrest.

Streets and markets

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Ladies' Market
Sai Yeung Choi Street South
Fa Yuen Street
Flower Market Road
Grand Century Place.Mong Kok East stationis visible at the bottom left. The area in the background is part ofKowloon City District.

Mong Kok preserves its traditional characteristics with an array ofmarkets,small shops, and food stalls that have disappeared from other areas during the past several decades of economic developments and urban transformation. As such, a few of these streets in Mong Kok have acquired nicknames reflecting their own characteristics. Some interesting sites are:

  • Tung Choi Street(Thông thái nhai) (also known asNữ nhân nhai,Ladies' Market) – This market specialises in women's clothing, accessories, and cosmetics, and is open daily from noon to midnight.
  • Sai Yeung Choi Street South(Tây dương thái nam nhai) – A street full of shops selling consumer electronic products, cosmetics, and discount books. The latter are usually located on the lower floors of buildings.
  • Yuen Po Street Bird Garden(Viên phố nhai tước điểu hoa viên) – Hundreds of songbirds in exquisitely crafted cages can be seen at this market. The garden is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located nearMong Kok Stadium,to the north ofMong Kok East stationand east ofPrince Edward station.
    The garden was completed in 1997[7]for the relocation of booths selling birds at Hong Lok Street (Tước tử nhai), aka. "Bird Street", which was closed due tourban renewalin June 1998.
  • Fa Yuen Street(Hoa viên nhai) (also known asBa hài nhai;'Sneakers Street') – This is a small neighbourhood of small retailers selling sports equipment and clothing. The shops stock a diversity of sports shoes, including many shoes of rare or special editions from different places.
  • Flower Market Road(Hoa khư đạo) – The street and the nearby side streets are packed with florists and street vendors selling flowers and plants. At the end of the street is Yuen Po Street Bird Garden.
  • Goldfish Street(Kim ngư nhai) or Goldfish Market – Centered on a section ofTung Choi Street,north of Bute Street.[8]There are dozens of shops selling tropical freshwater and marine fish, aquariums and accessories. This market opensvery early in the morning.
  • Tile Street (Từ chuyên nhai) – This is a section of Portland Street near Argyle Street and Bute Street with more than 50 retailers selling materials for construction or renovation, such as tiles, wall paper, window frames and bath tubs.
  • Photocopy Street (Ảnh ấn nhai) – A neighbourhood near Yim Po Fong Street andSoy Streetis noted for its remarkable number of photocopying shops due to the number of schools in the vicinity. The shops also have ID photo taking service.
  • Portland Street(Bát lan nhai) – Ared-light districtfeaturing numerous shops and restaurants.
  • Kwong Wa Street (Quảng hoa nhai), between Dundas Street and Yim Po Fong Street, is famous for shops sellingairsoft,RC racing,modellingand otherhobbyingequipment.
  • Dundas Street (Đăng đả sĩ nhai) marks the southern end of the shopping area in eastern Mong Kok, where Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Tung Choi Street and Fa Yuen Street terminate. It is named forHenry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville,formerBritishHome SecretaryandSecretary of State for War.It is unclear why the street was bestowed in his honour although, as a formerBritish colony,many of Hong Kong's streets and institutions were named in memory of prominent English historic and political figures.Ho King Shopping CentreandTrendy Zoneare major shopping centres on the street. Various kinds of snack food shops concentrate on this street.Kwong Wah Hospitalis also situated on the street. AcrossNathan Road,the section in the western Mong Kok is relatively quiet and there are many cafés above street level in several buildings.

Some popular shopping plazas located in this dense area include:

Langham Place,4th floor
  • T.O.P (This is Our Place) - Latest fashionable shopping centre for youngers. No high-end shops there but specially characteristic store. An overpass corridor connected to Argyle Centre (Vượng giác trung tâm).
  • Sim City (Tinh tế thành thị) - There are shops selling first or second hand cameras and lens, photographic and videographic equipment, gadget, phone accessory, computer accessory.
  • Sino Centre(Tín hòa trung tâm) – Most shops sell Japanimation figures and merchandising. Other shops sell comic books,VCDsand DVDs related to Japanese cartoons, and regular CD albums.
  • Ho King Shopping Centre(Hảo cảnh thương tràng) – Visitors can find computer and video games sold for relatively low prices. The fourth floor of the plaza is infamous for being formerly the biggest base of pornographic CDs and DVDs, and activities have diminished due to police and customs operations. However, some shops have been driven to the office section of the building.
  • Grand Century Place(Tân thế kỷ quảng tràng) – Situated next to Mong Kok East station, visitors can find famous-brand and popular shops.
  • Mong Kok Computer Centre(Vượng giác điện não trung tâm) – This three-story computer mall has around 50 to 70 computer shops, sellinglaptops,software,hardwareand computer accessories.
  • Langham Place(Lãng hào phường) – This is a 59-storey complex with a huge shopping mall, a hotel, and offices. It opened in 2004 and was constructed based on the Hong Kong Government urban redevelopment scheme. It is the tallest building in Mong Kok.
  • Argyle Centre (Vượng giác trung tâm) – This usually crowded centre, located next to Mong Kok Station, has three floors of shops selling female low-priced clothes and shoes. Also a lot of snack food and drinks shop there.
  • Trendy Zone (Triều lưu đặc khu)
  • W Plaza (W thương tràng)
  • Hollywood Shopping Centre (Hà lý hoạt cấu vật trung tâm)
  • Sincere Podium (Tiên đạt trung tâm)
  • Richmond Shopping Arcade (Giai vượng thương tràng)
  • Hollywood Plaza (Hà lý hoạt thương nghiệp trung tâm)
  • CTMA Centre (Triệu vạn trung tâm)

Other streets in the area include:

Food

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The Mong Kok area has manyfood-boothsselling traditional snacks such asfish balls,friedbeancurd(tofu) and variousdim sum.These fingerfoods are very popular in Hong Kong, especially for folks on the run. In addition, there are restaurants serving different kinds of cuisine, ranging fromJapanesetoThaiandItalian.

Built heritage

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Nos. 600–626 Shanghai Street

Built heritage in Mong Kok includes:

Sport venues

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Mong Kok Stadium in 2011, after renovation

Education

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Educational institutions in Mong Kok include:

Mong Kok is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 32. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and Tong Mei Road Government Primary School (Đường vĩ đạo quan lập tiểu học).[14]

Transport

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Traffic congestion in Mong Kok
Exit B1 ofPrince Edward station,with Exit C1 acrossPrince Edward Road West

The main thoroughfares are:

Three rail lines serve the area:

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Mong Kok was the setting for the 2004 hit filmOne Night in Mongkokdirected byDerek Yee.The movie portrays Mong Kok, one of the most densely populated places on Earth, as a hotbed of illicit activity. Similarly, the district was also the setting of the 1996 filmMongkok Story( vượng giác phong vân ) directed byWilson Yip,which depicts a young man who becomes involved in atriadgang.[15][16]The 2009 filmTo Live and Die in Mongkokand the 2013 filmYoung and Dangerous: Reloadedare also set in Mong Kok. The literal Chinese title of the 1988 filmAs Tears Go BybyWong Kar-waiis "Mong Kok Carmen". Part ofRobert Ludlum's 1986 novelThe Bourne Supremacywas set in Mong Kok.

The area is known locally for a youth subculture, theMong Kok culture.

2014 protests

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Mong Kok was one of the main sites of the2014 Hong Kong protests.Banks, jewellery stores and clothing stores were closed as a result of the pro-democracy protests.[17]

References

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  1. ^Ruwitch, John;Baldwin, Clare(3 October 2014)."Hong Kong protesters face backlash, threaten to abandon talks".Reuters.Retrieved3 October2014.
  2. ^Boland, Rory."Mongkok Ladies Market".About.com Guide.Retrieved6 April2013.
  3. ^Yau Tsim Mong District Council, You Jian Wang Qu Fengwuzhi ( du tiêm vượng khu phong vật chí ), Hong Kong: 1999. p18. "Mong Kok Tsui" (Mang giác chủy)
  4. ^Kan, Nelson Y. Y.; Tanf, Miranda K. L. "Chapter two".New Journey Through History 1A.Aristo Educational Press LTD. p. 48.
  5. ^"Vượng giác cổ danh mang giác khách gia nhân tụ cư"[Mong Kok, the ancient name of the Hakka settlements Mangjiao] (in Chinese). 1 August 2011.
  6. ^"Four dead as HK nightclub fire spreads".Yahoo!. Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2008.Retrieved28 August2008.
  7. ^"Yuen Po Street Bird Garden".Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
  8. ^"Theme Shopping Streets".Hong Kong Tourism Board.
  9. ^Yanne, Andrew; Heller, Gillis (2009).Signs of a Colonial Era.Hong Kong University Press.p. 26.ISBN978-962-209-944-9.
  10. ^Chan, Wing-yip Thomas (2001).Redevelopment of Mong Kok Urban Complex: An Urban Valley Along Fife Street(PDF)(Thesis).University of Hong Kong.doi:10.5353/th_b3198564(inactive 12 April 2024). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 18 June 2020.Retrieved18 June2020.{{cite thesis}}:CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of April 2024 (link)
  11. ^Phan quốc linh (2017). "Khoái phú nhai, nhất cá thập hoang giả" [Fife Street, scavengers].Tiêu thất vật chí[Lost Biography]. Hong Kong: Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited.ISBN978-988-8488-18-6.Retrieved18 June2020.
  12. ^"List of the Historic Buildings in Building Assessment (as of 23 November 2011)"(PDF).Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 15 December 2011.
  13. ^"Shui Yuet Kung, Shan Tung Street".Chinese Temples Committee.
  14. ^"POA School Net 32"(PDF).Education Bureau.Retrieved13 October2022.
  15. ^"Wong Gok fung wan".IMDb. 7 September 1996.Retrieved28 August2008.
  16. ^"Mongkok Story".Yahoo! Movies. Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2011.Retrieved28 August2008.
  17. ^"Protests in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay".The Standard.29 September 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2014.
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22°19′21″N114°10′14″E/ 22.32250°N 114.17056°E/22.32250; 114.17056

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