“The coast experiences different waves and tides, leaving traces of the moment, allowing us to carry the meaning of the past and move forward.”

1870s

Tai Kok Tsui is mainly a fishing village. The coastline remains in its natural state, surrounded by the rural environment.

1880s

Tai Kok Tsui is in the early stages of urbanization, people in Tai Kok Tsui rely on fishing to make a living. With the completion of the Cosmopolitan Dock, shipping related industries such as metal repairs also flourished. Hung Shing Temple was then built at the junction of Boundary Street and Tai Kok Tsui Road, where people on the waterways worshipped Hung Shing Yeh and prayed for protection.

1890s

The British signed the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong with the Qing Government and leased the New Territories, acquiring the land north of Boundary Street to the Shenzhen River. The Government gazetted the name “Fuk Tsun Heung” for the area of Sham Shui Po Village within British rule in Kowloon.

1900s

With the industrialization of Hong Kong, there was a general trend of reclaiming land in order to increase the number of industrial areas and warehouses. The need of factory land for light industries such as import and export trade led to the reclamation of Tai Kok Tsui.

1910s

Reclamation works in Tai Kok Tsui commenced. The first reclamation was mainly for the extension of industrial areas and the construction of piers to increase the land available for industrial and pier construction.

1920s

Reclamation works were extended. The Government reclaimed the Tai Kok Tsui mudflat and demolished the Fuk Chuen Heung Village, and the Hung Shing Temple was to be relocated. Industrial facilities and warehouses began to gather in Tai Kok Tsui. After reclamation, the coastline gradually receded and the harbor area shrank.

1940s

Reclamation works were suspended due to war and occupation during World War II. During World War II and Japanese Occupation, economic activities were stagnant and the coastline remained in its pre-war state.

1950s

Post-war reconstruction of Hong Kong started, reclamation resumed, the coastline was pushed seaward, industrial areas and piers continued to expand. Asiatic Petroleum Company sold part of the Tai Kok Tsui area and converted it into a number of residential buildings. The Kowloon Funeral Parlour was completed.

1960s

Hong Kong's economy grew rapidly, Tai Kok Tsui reclamation was almost completed and it became a full-fledged industrial area adjacent to the rest of Kowloon.

1970s

The coastline remained unchanged and the industrial area was maintained. Tai Kok Tsui became an important industrial and storage center. The Tai Kok Tsui Pier was opened to replace the Shantung Street Pier, providing ferry services between Kowloon and Central. 

1980s

The reclamation project in TKT was completed and the Government launched the Hong Kong Airport Core Programme (ACP), with the new airport at Chek Lap Kok as the centerpiece of 10 infrastructure and reclamation projects. Tai Kok Tsui was transformed into a mixed industrial and residential area.

2000s

The coastline stabilized and no more large-scale reclamation works were carried out in TKT. The coastline has shifted back considerably compared to the early days, industrial and pier land use gradually reduced and was developed into residential and commercial land.