Train (火車)

Actually, there is a legend about the invention of this name by the Chinese. Trains at first are steam-hauled, they used steam as their sources of power, and in order to do so, they need to burn coal sustainably. When people saw the burning coal inside the head of the train, they named it as ‘fire car’. During the 1950s, train began to use diesel oil as their energy. In 1962, ‘steam-hauled’ (Kowloon-Canton Railway) was not being used anymore. In 1973, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (九廣鐵路) began to build dual track and carry out the Railway Electrification. In 1982 May completed the first stage of the Electrification Project. (translated by Bibiana).

Reference: Wikipedia Kowloon-Canton Railway

Reference: LeePoSin Former Land Public Transport of Hong Kong.ppt.

Tram (電車)

The Tram system of Hong Kong started operating in 1904. Its route is from Wan Chai to Shau Kei Wan and the Happy Valley (horse racing ground).By 1912, double deck tram began to appear. But the upper deck is open to the air and by this time, there had been a lot of complaints from the customers. So the tram company used canvas as cover. Only until 1923, canvas was being replaced by wood to be tram’s upper deck’s cover. Only now they have the whole tram with both deck cover with metal.

Reference: LeePoSin Former Land Public Transport of Hong Kong.ppt.

Ngong Ping Skyrail

There is also a type of cable car which is called Ngong Ping Skyrail in Hong Kong. These cable cars travel between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping (昂坪)on Lantau Island. It is special because people could ‘enjoy some of the best views in Hong Kong. Cable cars glides over the South China Sea and North Lantau Country Park on 20-25 minutes. Views of the Hong Kong International Airport, verdant, mountainous terrain of Lantau Island and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue' (Skyrail) will also be viewable by people throughout this cable car journey.

Each of them is a ‘17-person cable car cabin’, with 10 seated and 7 standing. 'Ngong Ping Skyrail is a bi-cable ropeway; the first of its kind to be installed in Hong Kong. This type of ropeway system was selected as it allows long spans between towers; and it was also chosen for its safety and reliability and will provide guests with a smooth and comfortable journey.

Another good point of Ngong Ping Skyrail is, it is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Elderly and disabled passengers, including those with wheelchairs, could also get into the cabin and enjoy the nice view of Hong Kong.’

Reference: Ngong Ping 360. Skyrail-ITM (Hong Kong) Ltd (2006). http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng/np360_exp/skyrail_index.html?play=off&continue1=yes&soundpos

Cable Car in The Ocean Park

They are also called as crane(吊車) by people. The only difference is that each of them has six seats available and takes eight minutes and thirty seconds for each ride (Ocean Park Hong Kong).

Reference: Wikipedia Ocean Park Hong Kong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Park,_Hong_Kong

Cable Car (纜車)

Cable Car came to Hong Kong because of the British people. In the past, the British people lived high up the Pacific Mountain. Whenever they need to go to downtown, they need to get down the hill by going through winding routes. This caused a great inconvenience to them. Hence, they created cable car in 1888. At first, it is moved by steam and had only 30 seats. Only until 1926, electricity replaced steam as its source of power and had about 50 seats. In 1948, the whole cabin was made out of metal, and in 1959 onwards, 72 seats are available and the whole cable car cabin was made out of aluminum.

Reference: LeePoSin Former Land Public Transport of Hong Kong.ppt.

Rickshaw (人力車)

Rickshaw came into Hong Kong in 1890. Actually, rickshaw was originated in Japan. Its Japanese name is 'jinrikisha’ (Macau).

It was a missionary who brought rickshaw into Hong Kong and later rich people also imported rickshaw from Japan for private use. Rickshaw eventually became very popular throughout Hong Kong. It was said that in its most flourishing period, there were about 3000 of them and about 8000 rickshaw drivers in the city.

After 1930 the popularity of rickshaw declined, as rich people turned to buy and use cars. After 1970, rickshaw were then weed out. Only dozens of them were remained at the Star Ferry and Tsim Sha Tsui for people to shoot photos. Similar to Macao, some of them are being preserved for tourism purposes. It acts as a distinguishable type of transport in Hong Kong.

Reference: Wikipedia Macau http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau#Transportation

Reference: LeePoSin Former Land Public Transport of Hong Kong.ppt.

Sedan Chair (轎)

Sedan chair was the earliest kind of public transport used inHong Kong. In 1870, sedan chair became popular. Its service was provided on the peak of the Pacific Mountain and its terrace area. They were used by British officials and rich Chinese businessmen. When the British colonized Hong Kong between 1842 and 1860, there were very few roads in Hong Kong. There were narrow streets and alleys. The British officials liked to live in beautiful peaceful mountain peak and rich Chinese liked to live in the terrace area. They felt very inconvenient whenever they need to get up and down the mountain to downtown. Thus, these people then imported some sedan chair from Guangzhou.

As sedan chair was light and is easy to carry, it around the mountain areas, it became one of various major kinds of public transport. Later, rickshaw appeared and only about half the number of sedan chair remained. However, rickshaw could not get up the mountain and cable car had only a few stops, people found them not convenient and continued to use the sedan chair. Only after 1930, rich people living at the terrace area bought cars themselves, thus, only small number of sedan chair remained. In 1954, sedan chair died out. (translated by Bibiana)

Reference: LeePoSin Former Land Public Transport of Hong Kong.ppt.