Route 11 - Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road－Stubbs Road (Bradbury School) Flashcards
Route 11 - Points to mention
(Junction of Magazine Gap Road and Peak Road－Peak Road－Stubbs Road (Bradbury School)
(this section ends at Bradbury School)
2 Sites + 4 Hong Kong-related Topics - 6 minutes
- 4-Storey Mansion (right)
- Victoria Harbour (left)
- Marriage systems and rituals
- Trade and logistics industry in Hong Kong
- Business environment in the Greater Bay Area
- One Belt - One Road
4-Storey Mansion
Four-Storey Mansion:
* Owned by wealthy Chinese merchant with four wives.
* Wives nicknamed Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Bamboo.
* Each floor had separate entrance for each wife.
* Built at 27 Magazine Gap Road
* Designed by Palmer & Turner
* Completed in 1954
Victoria Harbour
1. History:
Victoria Harbour is one of the world’s three great natural harbors, alongside San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro, offering:
* Deep waters suitable for large ships,
* Natural protection from typhoons and rough seas,
* A wide, accessible bay for anchorage and trade.
2. Maritime Trade Hub:
* Linking large ocean-going vessels from the Pacific with smaller river trade vessels from the Pearl River.
* 8th busiest port as of 2023, after Shanghai, Singapore and other Asian ports.
3. Reclamation:
* Victoria Harbour was once much wider than it is today. Due to extensive land reclamation, the harbor has shrunk significantly over the years.
* Land reclamation projects started as early as the 19th century, with major expansions in the 1990s and 2000s to create space for new business districts (like Central and West Kowloon).
* In 1841, when the British first took control of Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour was around 5,600 hectares (56 sq km) in size.
* Today, the harbor has been reduced to about 4,100 hectares (41 sq km)—a loss of nearly 27% of its original size.
* Some locals joke that if reclamation continues, there may be no “harbor” left in Victoria Harbour!
4. Tourist attractions:
* Panoramic night view and skyline, particularly in the direction towards Hong Kong Island where the skyline of skyscrapers is superimposed over the ridges behind.
* “A Symphony of Lights,” the Guinness World record-holding light and sound show, takes place at 8 PM daily, featuring synchronized lights, searchlights, lasers, and LED displays across buildings on both sides of the harbour.
* Harbour tours and cruises
Victoria Harbour
1. History:
Victoria Harbour is one of the world’s three great natural harbors, alongside San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro, offering:
* Deep waters suitable for large ships,
* Natural protection from typhoons and rough seas,
* A wide, accessible bay for anchorage and trade.
2. Maritime Trade Hub:
* Linking large ocean-going vessels from the Pacific with smaller river trade vessels from the Pearl River.
* 8th busiest port as of 2023, after Shanghai, Singapore and other Asian ports.
3. Reclamation:
* Victoria Harbour was once much wider than it is today. Due to extensive land reclamation, the harbor has shrunk significantly over the years.
* Land reclamation projects started as early as the 19th century, with major expansions in the 1990s and 2000s to create space for new business districts (like Central and West Kowloon).
* In 1841, when the British first took control of Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour was around 5,600 hectares (56 sq km) in size.
* Today, the harbor has been reduced to about 4,100 hectares (41 sq km)—a loss of nearly 27% of its original size.
* Some locals joke that if reclamation continues, there may be no “harbor” left in Victoria Harbour!
4. Tourist attractions:
* Panoramic night view and skyline, particularly in the direction towards Hong Kong Island where the skyline of skyscrapers is superimposed over the ridges behind.
* “A Symphony of Lights,” the Guinness World record-holding light and sound show, takes place at 8 PM daily, featuring synchronized lights, searchlights, lasers, and LED displays across buildings on both sides of the harbour.
* Harbour tours and cruises
Marriage systems and rituals
1. History:
* Concubinage in Chinese society was a widespread practice, especially during the imperial era and well into the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). It was a system where a man, usually of higher social or economic status, could maintain up to two wives and four concubines alongside his legal wife.
* Early 1950s: A committee was formed to study Chinese customary law, as polygamy (three wives and four concubines) was still legal under Qing Dynasty law.
* 1971: A new marriage law was implemented, officially abolishing concubinage and establishing monogamy as the legal marriage system in Hong Kong.
* Same-sex civil unions or registered partnerships are allowed but not yet same-sex marriage. (In recent polls 60% of HK residents are pro same-sex marriage).
* 2006: The Marriage Celebrants system was introduced under the Marriage (Amendment) Ordinance, allowing weddings to be conducted outside government marriage registry offices, including in churches, temples, and other locations.
2. Modern Wedding Practices: * Incorporate both ancient customs and modern elements, blending Chinese and Western styles.
* Western attire for registration and traditional red qipao or dragon and phoenix gowns for banquets.
* Wedding Banquet: A lavish celebration with multiple courses, often involving traditional dishes like lobster, abalone, and roast pig symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.
* Red Envelopes (Lai See): Guests give money gifts in red envelopes to the newlyweds for luck and prosperity.
Trade and Logistics Industry in HK
1. Economical Significance:
Hong Kong’s trade and logistics industry is the foremost of Hong Kong’s four economic pillars. In 2022, the trade and logistics industry accounted for 22.5% of Hong Kong’s GDP and provided approximately 590,000 jobs.
2. Logistics Infrastructure:
* Advanced airports, ports, and rail systems connect Hong Kong seamlessly to international markets, enhancing its role as a logistics hub.
* Hong Kong has good connections with most Asian urban centres and around half of the world’s population is within five hours’ flight time. Air travel has bounced back strongly since Hong Kong emerged from the shadows of Covid, as global passenger numbers are gradually back to pre-pandemic levels.
* HKIA has five first-tier air cargo handling facilities, with over seven million tonnes of annual handling capacity.In 2021, the cargo throughput (including airmail) at Hong Kong International Airport exceeded 4.3 million tonnes which accounted for about 47% of the total value of Hong Kong’s external trade, ranking first busiest airport worldwide in terms of cargo volume.
* Hong Kong has nine container terminals for sea transport, comprising 24 container berths.
* Global Financial Center: As a major international financial center, Hong Kong provides services such as banking, insurance, and financing, supporting the logistics and trade sectors.
* Trade Agreements: Hong Kong enjoys trade agreements with numerous countries and regions, facilitating smooth business operations across borders.
* Port of Hong Kong: In 2023, it was the 8th-busiest port globally.
2. Key Industries:
* Sea Freight: Hong Kong is a key node in global shipping, particularly for containerized cargo.
* Air Cargo: Hong Kong International Airport is one of the world’s busiest for airfreight, handling large volumes of high-value goods.
* Warehousing & Distribution: The city is a major distribution hub, with modern logistics centers supporting the flow of goods across Asia and the world.
Business Environment in the Greater Bay Area
1. Hong Kong - Part of GBA:
* Metropolis that includes Hong Kong, Macau, and 9 Guangdong cities.
* Largest and most populated urban area in the world.
* Key economic hub, driving sectors like finance, tech, manufacturing, and logistics.
* The GBA is an economic powerhouse. Its combined regional GDP was RMB¥13 trillion (US$1.8 trillion) in 2022, which is equivalent to over 10 percent of GDP for all of China.
* If the GBA were its own country, it would rank as the 12th biggest economy globally.
2. Hong Kong’s Role:
Acts as a gateway for international business, with strong financial services and logistics infrastructure.
3. Cross-Border Collaboration: Opportunities in tech innovation (Shenzhen) and free trade zones (Qianhai).
4. Strategic Location:
Benefits from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and major trade routes.
5. Government Support:
Policies encourage business integration and investment across the region.
One Belt - One Road
1. OBOR Overview:
China’s initiative to enhance global trade through infrastructure development, connecting 68 Asian, European and African countries via the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
2. Hong Kong’s Role: Acts as a financial gateway for OBOR projects, providing banking, insurance, and investment services to support infrastructure and trade along the route.
3. Trade Hub:
Hong Kong’s logistics, port, and airport facilitate the movement of goods, enhancing OBOR connectivity.
4. Legal and Financial Expertise:
Hong Kong offers global legal frameworks and financial systems, crucial for OBOR’s cross-border transactions.
