North District

North District (北區) is one of the 18 districts in Hong Kong, is located in the north-eastern part of the New Territories, and is within the New Territories North constituency of the Legislative Council. It is mainly divided into four sub-districts, namely Sheung Shui, Fanling, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling.

History[]

The North District is the most northerly district in Hong Kong and is one of the districts that have best preserved the traditional rural characteristics of the New Territories. In the early days, villagers made their living by farming and selling crops in Shek Wu Hui in Sheung Shui and Luen Wo Hui in Fanling, which were the gathering points for residents. The North District was divided into four Rural Committees, namely Sheung Shui, Fanling, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling, and was therefore known collectively as as "Sheung Fan Sha Ta" (上粉沙打) before the establishment of administrative districts in Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Government started to develop the Fanling/Sheung Shui New Town in the 1980s. Choi Yuen Estate, the first public housing estate in the North District, was occupied in 1982, and the new townscape of Fanling and Sheung Shui took shape one after another from the 1980s to the 1990s. Shek Wu Hui and Luen Wo Hui to the north of San Wan Road were more maturely developed, while Fanling South along Pak Wo Road was developed at a later stage.

As the North District is along the MTR East Rail Line and the Fanling/Sheung Shui New Towns are separated by the railway to the north and south, most of the developments in the two districts are built along the railway track between Sheung Shui and Fanling Stations, and there are bus stops on both sides of the Sheung Shui and Fanling Stations to connect with the railway. For information on the bus stops connecting the two MTR stations, please refer to the articles "Sheung Shui Station" and "Fanling Station".

Hong Kong is just across the river from Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province, and Lo Wu, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok have become important land routes to Mainland China. The opening of the Individual Visit Scheme to the Mainland in late 2003 has spurred the development of the district, and the flow of people in many shopping malls has soared, but it has also given rise to a variety of problems in people's livelihoods.

To date, many rural areas in the North District, including Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling, remain as Frontier Closed Areas (FCAs). Those entering the FCAs are required to hold a Frontier Closed Area Permit (FCP), and those who wish to cross the border via Man Kam To Control Point and Sha Tau Kok Control Point are required to take designated cross-boundary coaches and hold a valid travel document to cross the border, or the Police will require them to alight from their buses and leave the FCAs.

Bus services[]

The average daily patronage of KMB decreased from about 2.7 million in 2008 to about 2.58 million in 2012, representing a decrease of 4%. During the same period, the patronage of KMB's North District increased by 7% from about 164,000 to about 175,000, and the patronage of each of the ten bus routes with the highest patronage in the North District in 2012 ranged from about 6,500 to 18,000 per day on average. ^[1]

North District became the first district in Hong Kong to implement "Area Approach rationalisation for bus routes". The Administration introduced the proposal to the North District Council (NDC) in the first half of 2013, and subsequently published the rationalisation plan, which was revised after several rounds of consultation and finally endorsed by the NDC in July, and the rationalisation plan has been implemented in phases since August.

Street/road structure[]

In the North District, there are four highways (Castle Peak Road - Kwu Tung, Fan Kam Road, Sha Tau Kok Road, Man Kam To Road) which existed before the development of the new towns. Many of the streets in the Fanling/Sheung Shui new towns were formed before the Government's development of the new towns, including Jockey Club Road, San Fung Avenue, Luen Wo Road, and so on; and there are also roads which were built after the development of the new towns, including San Wan Road, Pak Wo Road, Tin Ping Road, Fanling Highway, and so on.

According to the 1980s version of the street plan, Tai Po Road used to terminate at Fanling and was connected to Fan Kam and Castle Peak Roads at the same point. When Fanling Highway was constructed, it was already shortened to Hong Lok Yuen in Tai Po District, and part of the original section in the North District has been replaced by Tai Wo Service Road West, Tai Wo Service Road East, Jockey Club Road (section between Luen Wo Hui and Tong Hang), Sha Tau Kok Road - Lung Yeuk Tau and San Wan Road. Fanling Highway now forms part of Route 9 and is very convenient for travelling to other districts via that road.

Contingency Measures and Diversion Scheme for Bus Routes in North District[]

In view of the traffic conditions in the North District in recent years, the Transport Department (TD) has implemented a number of traffic management measures since 2016. Among them, the road markings at the entrance of So Kwun Po Road at Kai Leng Roundabout have been enhanced to increase the sight distance of motorists so as to reduce the chance of traffic accidents. On the other hand, various traffic improvement works have commenced one after another and are in progress. The works to increase the number of traffic lanes on So Kwun Po Road (i.e. Kai Leng Roundabout) southbound and Po Shek Wu Road (i.e. Tai Tau Leng Roundabout) southbound were completed in mid-2018 and the first quarter of 2019 respectively.

In addition, the TD, the Police and the franchised bus companies have also formulated contingency measures and diversion plans for bus routes in the North District following traffic accidents on the roads in the vicinity of the Tai Tau Leng and Kai Leng roundabouts. ^[2]

According to the paper submitted by the TD to the District Councils, a total of 10 routes were involved in the implementation of the first phase of the diversion measures. During the diversion period, the routes concerned would continue to stop at the original stops and the pick-up/drop-off points were not affected. Routes 261, 261P, 276, 276P and 279X, which were originally routed to New Territories West via Kai Leng roundabout, were diverted to enter and exit Fanling Highway via Po Shek Wu Road and Tai Tau Leng roundabout during traffic congestion; while Routes 270A, 270B, 277P, 278X and 678 would be diverted to avoid the more congested section of San Wan Road opposite to Sheung Shui Centre by going via So Kwun Po Road and Jockey Club Road if they arrive at the Kai Leng roundabout during traffic congestion.

If traffic congestion in the Sheung Shui area persisted or further deteriorateed after the implementation of the first stage of temporary bus diversion, TD would implement the second stage of temporary diversion whereby eight bus routes terminating in Sheung Shui via Fanling South, including routes 270A, 270B, 277P, T277, 278X, 678, 78K and 79K, were temporarily diverted to terminate at Fanling to avoid continuing into the congested areas. Two GMB routes 44 and 44A, which were originally routed via Kai Leng roundabout and San Wan Road, were diverted to route via Jockey Club Road and Tai Tau Leng roundabout.

Bus and Minibus Termini[]

Template:List of North District Bus Termini

Sheung Shui and Shek Wu Hui[]

Sheung Shui Bus Terminus: Located at the ground level of Sheung Shui Plaza between San Wan Road and Lung Sum Road, it is the largest bus terminus in the North District.
Choi Yuen Bus Terminus: Located in Choi Yuen Estate, it is the first bus terminus inside a public housing estate in the North District.
Tin Ping Estate Bus Terminus: Located at a section of Tin Ping Road to the north of Tin Ping Estate, opposite Tin Ping Shopping Centre.
Tsui Lai Garden Bus Terminus: Located next to Fung Nam Road car park, opposite to Blocks 5 and 6 Tsui Lai Garden and the shopping centre.
Tai Ping Bus Terminus: Located outside Tai Ping Estate on Po Ping Road, adjacent to the North District Hospital.
North District Hospital: Located next to the main entrance of North District Hospital.
Ching Ho Estate Public Transport Interchange: Located outside Ching Ho Estate Shopping Centre, Ching Hiu Road.
Sheung Shui (San Hong Street) Minibus Terminus: Located at the section of San Hong Street between San Cheung Street and Lung Sum Road, it is a red minibus terminus for red minibuses to Tai Po and Jordan.
Sheung Shui (Fu Hing Street) Minibus Terminus: Located at a section of Foo Hing Street opposite to Shek Wu Hui Recreation Ground, it is a red minibus terminus for red minibuses bound for Ping Yeung.
Sheung Shui (San Fat Street) Minibus Terminus: Located at the northern side of Sheung Shui Plaza, on the section of San Fat Street between San Choi Street and San Lok Street, is a red minibus terminus for PLB Yuen Long to Sheung Shui Route (17).
Sheung Shui (San Wan Road) Minibus Terminus: Located next to the old Sheung Shui Terminus on San Wan Road, near the KMB Sheung Shui Depot, it is the starting point of the PLB Yuen Long to Sheung Shui Route (18).
Sheung Shui Station (San Wan Road): Located at the junction of San Wan Road near Chi Cheung Road, it is the non-franchised bus terminus of Sheung Shui Station, and is the terminus for many resident bus routes (e.g., Resident Bus Route NR902) travelling to and from the local area or Yuen Long District.
Sheung Shui (Po Wan Road) Bus Terminus: Located opposite Tung Hing Tong on Po Wan Road, this is a terminus for franchised buses, and is the terminus for Citybus Route B7.
Sheung Shui Heung Minibus Terminus: located at Po Wan Road near Man Kok Tsuen, this is a GMB terminus for New Territories GMB Route 59A.

Fanling New Town and Luen Wo Hui[]

See: Luen Wo Hui and Fanling South

Luen Wo Hui Bus Terminus: The oldest terminus in Fanling, with the existing bus terminus at Regentville and the minibus terminus at Wo Mun Street.
Fanling (Luen Wo Road) Minibus Terminus: A green minibus terminus on Luen Wo Road between Luen Shing Street and Luen Hing Street, next to the old Luen Wo Hui Market.
Fanling (Luen Fat Street) Minibus Terminus: A red minibus terminus on Luen Fat Street between Luen Wo Road and Luen Fu Street, next to the Fanling Theatre.
Fanling (Wo Fung Street) Minibus Terminus: A red minibus terminus on Wo Fung Street between Luen Cheong Street and Luen Shing Street.
Fanling Station Minibus Terminus: A green minibus terminus located next to Platform 2 (Admiralty bound) opposite to Exit C of Fanling Station.
Fanling Station (Fanling Station Road): located next to Exit A2 of Fanling Station, it is a terminus for New Territories green minibus routes 52A, 54A and 56A.
Cheung Wah Bus Terminus: Located outside Cheung Wah Community Hall, Cheung Wah Estate
Wah Ming Bus Terminus: Located outside the Wah Ming Shopping Centre on Pak Wo Road, second only to the Sheung Shui Bus Terminus in size in the area.
Yung Shing Court Minibus Terminus: Located in the southern part of Fanling, it is the terminus of New Territories GMB Route 501A.
Yan Shing Court Minibus Terminus: Located in the southern part of Fanling, it is the terminus of New Territories GMB Route 501K.

Rural[]

Man Kam To (San Uk Ling Tsuen): Located in the northern part of North District, with the terminus at San Uk Ling, Man Kam To, near the Man Kam To Control Point.
Ta Kwu Ling (Tsung Yuen Ha): Located in the northern part of North District, near Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point.
Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point: Located on the ground floor of the Passenger Terminal Building of Heung Yuen Wai Control Point at the former site of Chuk Yuen Tsuen, Ta Kwu Ling, in the northern part of the North District, opposite to the Liantang Port on the Chinese side.
Ping Che (Sing Ping Tsuen): Located in the northern part of the North District near Sing Ping Tsuen on Ping Che Road.
Lin Ma Hang: Located in the northern part of the North District between Ta Kwu Ling and Sha Tau Kok.
Heung Yuen Wai: Located in the northern part of the North District between Lin Ma Hang and Ha Heung Yuen.
Wo Hop Shek: The Wo Hop Shek Cemetery is located in the southern part of Fanling, with many grave sweepers visiting the cemetery during the Ching Ming and Chung Yeung Festivals. The temporary bus terminus is located at Ming Yin Road in Wo Hop Shek, and there is also a bus terminus at Kiu Tau Road.
Lung Yeuk Tau: located along Sha Tau Kok Road, very close to Luen Wo Hui.
Siu Hang Tsuen: located to the north of Lung Yeuk Tau.
Hok Tau：Located in Pat Sin Leng Country Park, and New Territories GMB Route 52B terminates at Hok Tau Wai.
Tan Chuk Hang: between Sha Tau Kok Road and Hok Tau.
Wu Kau Tang: located in Plover Cove Country Park in the eastern part of the North District, with the terminus at the lower part of Wu Kau Tang Road under the new housing estate, which is very close to Tai Po District.
Luk Keng: located in the eastern part of North District, with a view of the Sha Tau Kok Sea from the outside.
Kwu Tung: Located in the western part of North District, the Kwu Tung stop is located at Kwu Tung Road near Kwu Tung Market.
Hang Tau: Located in the western part of the North District, south of the Kwu Tung.
Ki Lun Tsuen: Located in the western part of the North District, in the southern part of Kwu Tung.
Ho Sheung Heung: Located in the western part of the North District, in the northern part of Kwu Tung.
Ma Tso Lung (Community Sports): Located in the western part of the North District, on Ma Tso Lung Road near Community Sports.
Ma Tso Lung (Shun Yee San Tsuen): Located in the western part of North District, north of Ma Tso Lung Road.
Tong Kung Leng: Located in the southern part of the North District, along Fan Kam Road.
Tsiu Keng (Pang Uk Tsuen): Located in the southern part of North District, within Tiu Keng Road, Pang Uk Village.
Ping Kong: Located in the southern part of the North District.
Queen's Hill: Located to the south of Sha Tau Kok Road near Lung Yeuk Tau, the site was formerly a barracks of the British Forces, which was temporarily transferred to the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in 1992 and returned to the Government in accordance with the Sino-British Defence Land Agreement in 1994, and has been gradually deserted since 2001, and is now a new development area. It is now a new development area with public housing estates in Queen's Hill Estate and Home Ownership Scheme flats in Shan Lai Court, with the terminus located opposite to Wong Yee House Queen's Hill Estate.

Frontier Closed Area[]

Sha Tau Kok: Located within the Sha Tau Kok Closed Area, the terminus is at Shun Lung Street near Sha Tau Kok Estate.

Decommissioned bus termini[]

Sheung Shui Bus Terminus (1st generation): Located behind the Shek Wu Hui Post Office, next to the KMB Sheung Shui Depot.
Fanling KCR Station: located on Fanling Station Road near Exit A2 of Fanling Station, it used to be the terminus of KMB Route 69K, and has now become a circular point of KMB Route 278K as well as the terminus for green minibus (GMB) routes 52A/54A/56A.
Luen Wo Hui Bus Terminus (1st Generation): A section of Luen Wo Road between Luen Shing Street and Luen Hing Street, which used to be the terminus of the former KMB Route 81 (later 69K), and is now a terminus for green minibuses as well as a taxi stand.
Belair Monte: Located at Wo Mun Street, outside the main entrance of Belair Monte housing estate, it used to be the Luen Wo Hui terminus of KMB Route 278K, and has now become a taxi stand as well as a drop-off point for green minibus route 52A/54A/56A.
Luk Keng: Located in the eastern part of the North District, it used to be the terminus for KMB Route 69K, and is now the terminus for green minibus route 56K.
Ping Yeung: Located at the junction of Ping Che Road and Ping Yuen Road, it used to be the terminus of KMB Route 79A, but has now become the "Ping Yuen Road" intermediate stop of KMB Route 79K.
Sha Tau Kok Government Secondary School: Located on Sha Tau Kok Road near Sha Tau Kok Clinic, it used to be the terminus of first generation KMB Route 78A, and is now the "Sha Tau Kok Clinic" intermediate stop of KMB Route 78K.

Bus routes[]

Template:List of North District Bus Routes

Notes and References[]

↑ LCQ6: Services of MTR East Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line and KMB in North District, 20 February 2013.
↑ 立法會四題：北區交通情況, 13 December 2017.

External Links[]

Template:Administrative Districts

To facilitate quoting and enquiries, the following redirect page(s) will direct to this page:

Fanling

[1] LCQ6: Services of MTR East Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line and KMB in North District, 20 February 2013.

[2] 立法會四題：北區交通情況, 13 December 2017.

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[2]