King's Park, Hong Kong

Fact|date=June 2007.

Location

It is bounded approximately by Waterloo Road to the north, the East Rail Line line to the east, Austin Road to the south, and Nathan Road to the west, although nothing on Nathan Road or Waterloo Road is considered to be within the area. There is an elevated part which is considered the boundary with Yau Ma Tei.

Topography

The northern section is hilly, while the southern section is relatively flat.

Uses

The area is zoned for Government, residential and recreational use, and there are no commercial outlets [ [http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199810/16/1016190.htm Draft Yau Ma Tei Outline Zoning Plan Approved] , Hong Kong Government, Accessed 2007-06-13] .

The hill north hosts the meteorological station of Hong Kong Observatory, the Blood Transfusion Centre of Hong Kong Red Cross and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

From 1967 until June 1995, the 15-storey British Military Hospital was also based in the area, on a site to the east of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It was closed in 1995 as the British Garrison sealed down from more than 10,000 personnel to about 3,000 as 1997 approached [Naomi Lee, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=37961&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19950819&sear_year=1995 Garrison hospital's bones fit to be picked] , The Standard, August 19, 1995] . The 7.4 hectare site had an estimated market value of HK$5.6 billion in 1995 [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=46134&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19960920&sear_year=1996 $5.6b military hospital to house unemployed Filipino maids] , The Standard, September 20, 1996] .

The site on which the hospital buildings once were was sold by 1999 [ [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr00-01/english/panels/fa/papers/info_e.pdf Note for panel on Financial Affairs] , Legislative Council of Hong Kong] , and is now a private housing estate [Eli Lau, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=3673&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=20040910&sear_year=2004 Firms buy Parc Palais flats for $66m] , The Standard, September 10, 2004] , whilst the fields which once surrounded the hospital have been largely preserved [ [http://hk.rd.yahoo.com/govsearch/result/SIG=1282o5nqs/*http%3A//www.fso-tela.gov.hk/lib/locations_details.cfm?Photo_Num=00810 King's Park Sports Ground - 11 Wylie Path, Ho Man Tin] , Location Database, Film Services Offices] due to the lobbying efforts of a group of sporting associations. The Kings Park Sports Association (KPSA) was then formed, with Hong Kong Rugby Football Union as one of its core members [Tim Noonan, [http://www.skyline-technologies.com/news/0304/290304.htm Triumph over concrete Goliath - a true Hong Kong Story] , South China Morning Post, March 28, 2004 Accessed 2007-06-13] .

In 1987, land to the south of the BMH was developed into "Wylie Court", residential estate for civil servants. The Civil Service Club is located nearby.

The southern portion of King's Park is a flat piece of land hosting various recreation clubs and green sports grounds, like King's Park Hockey Ground, Kowloon Bowling Green Club. YMCA Recreation Ground. The United Services Recreation Club, Kowloon Cricket Club, and Gun Club Hill Barracks, are located south of Gascoigne Road.

The headquarters of Hong Kong Girl Guides Association is sited at Gascoigne Road near its eastern side.

References