San Tin
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San Tin () is a loosely defined area in
Yuen Long District Yuen Long District (formerly romanised as Un Long) is one of the districts of Hong Kong. Located in the northwest of the New Territories, it had a population of 662,000 in 2021 Geography Yuen Long District contains the largest alluvial pla ...
in
New Territories The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of Hong Kong. Historically, it ...
,
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
that is part of the San Tin constituency. Unlike Hong Kong's highly urbanised areas, San Tin is sparsely populated due to its marshlands. San Tin is located near
Lok Ma Chau Lok Ma Chau or Lokmachau is an area in Hong Kong's New Territories. It is the site of a major pedestrian (linked directly to the Hong Kong rapid transit network) and road border crossing point between Hong Kong and mainland China. Administra ...
. The San Tin Public Transport Interchange services the
Lok Ma Chau Control Point Lok Ma Chau Control Point () is an immigration control point in Lok Ma Chau, Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong, which is on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. It opened in 1989 as the third road crossing between the ...
Huanggang Port Huanggang Port () is a port of entry on the border between mainland China and Hong Kong, in the Futian District of Shenzhen, China. Its counterpart in Hong Kong is the Lok Ma Chau Control Point, located in Lok Ma Chau in Hong Kong's New Territ ...
border crossing, the only 24 hour border crossing between Hong Kong and mainland
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.


History


Early history and etymology

The area was largely settled and inhabited by a clan with surname
Man A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromos ...
(). The clan claims descent from Man Sai-go, who settled near San Tin in the 14th century. For nearly six centuries, the Man clan survived by growing a specialized crop of
red rice Red rice is a variety of rice that is colored red by its anthocyanin content. It is usually eaten unpolished or partially polished, and has a red bran layer, rather than the more common pale brown. Red rice has a nutty flavor. It has the highes ...
on brackish-water paddies along the
Sham Chun River The Sham Chun River, Shum Chum River, or Shenzhen River () serves as the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China, together with the Sha Tau Kok River, Mirs Bay and Deep Bay. It formed part of the limit of the lease of the New ...
. The development of the marshy lands into brackish paddies is reflected by the name San Tin which means "new fields". In the 1860s, the
Tai Fu Tai Mansion Tai Fu Tai Mansion is a residence located in Wing Ping Tsuen, San Tin near Lok Ma Chau, north of Yuen Long, Hong Kong. History It was probably built in 1865 in the reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was built as a residence by Man Chung-luen () who ...
, considered to be an outstanding example of a 19th century multi-courtyard residence for scholars, was built in San Tin as a large study hall.


20th and 21st centuries

The Man clan became one of the five major surname groups that dominated political life in the Hong Kong New Territories until the 1960s. In the 1960s, the residents of San Tin considered themselves to be part of a regional elite. They adopted local neo-Confucian models of "proper" behavior roughly based on principles given by the 12th century scholar
Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...
. In the early 1950s, the agriculture in San Tin faced a serious crisis because the markets for their specialized rice were located across the river in the newly communist People's Republic of China. Unlike other areas in the New Territories that were based on fresh-water ecosystems, the San Tin farmers could not convert their brackish paddies to white rice paddies or vegetable farms. Before the First Commonwealth Immigrants Act went into effect on July 1, 1962, 85–90 percent of the able-bodied males in San Tin left for the United Kingdom between 1955 and 1962 to work in British factories, foundries, railways, buses, hotels, and restaurants. By the 1970s, large-scale emigration to the urban areas of Hong Kong and overseas countries left many old villages abandoned. In 2004, it was estimated that four thousand people from over 20 countries in the San Tin diaspora claimed descent from Man Sai-go.


Geography

San Tin is located in the far north of the
Kowloon Peninsula The Kowloon Peninsula is a peninsula that forms the southern part of the main landmass in the territory of Hong Kong, alongside Victoria Harbour and facing toward Hong Kong Island. The Kowloon Peninsula and the area of New Kowloon are collect ...
, just south of the Sham Chun River (Shenzhen River) that separates Hong Kong from mainland China. San Tin is situated on expansive shallow
wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
s that were partially developed into brackish rice paddy fields after the arrival of the Man clan in the 14th century. The
Mai Po Marshes Mai Po Marshes (; Hong Kong Hakka: ''Mi3bu4 Sip5ti4'') is a nature reserve located in San Tin near Yuen Long in Hong Kong. it is within Yuen Long District. It is part of Deep Bay, an internationally significant wetland that is actually a s ...
are located in the northwest of the constituency and the
Nam Sang Wai Nam Sang Wai is a wetland area in San Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong to the north of Yuen Long. It is considered ecologically important, and serves as a stopping place for migratory birds. It is also a popular recreational destination, e ...
wetland area is in the southwest of the constituency. The suburb
Ngau Tam Mei Ngau Tam Mei (), also known as Yau Tam Mei (), is a suburb located in San Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong near Yuen Long. It is located at the east of Fairview Park, the north of San Tin village and Kai Kung Leng, the northwest of Lam Tsuen Cou ...
is also contained in the San Tin constituency. There are numerous historic village temples scattered around the area, as well as a park dedicated to Man Tin Cheung.


Administration


Subdivisions

San Tin has eight hamlet-like settlements each consisting of one or two lanes of compact brick houses. The settlement
Wing Ping Tsuen Wing Ping Tsuen () is a village in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong. Administration Wing Ping Tsuen is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy. See also * Tai Fu Tai Mansion References External link ...
() contains the Tai Fu Tai Mansion. Other settlements include:
Chau Tau Chau Tau () is a village in the New Territories of Hong Kong, in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District. There is a new railway called the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line linking it to mainland China. It is near Lok Ma Chau. Its settlements are largely o ...
,
Fan Tin Tsuen Fan Tin Tsuen () is a village in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong. Administration Fan Tin, including San Yi Cho () and Ming Tak Tong (), is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy. References External ...
,
Pok Wai Pok Wai () is a walled village in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building AppraisalShrine at No. 106 Pok Wai/ref> Administration Pok Wai is a recognized village under the New Territories Small ...
, San Wai,
Shek Wu Wai Shek Wu Wai () is a Punti walled village in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong.Antiquities Advisory Board. Historic Building AppraisalEntrance Gate, Shek Wu Wai, San Tin/ref> Administration Shek Wu Wai is a recognized village under ...
and
Tung Chan Wai Tung Chan Wai (), also transliterated as Tung Chun Wai, is a village in the San Tin area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong. Administration Tung Chun Wai is a recognized village under the New Territories Small House Policy. History Tung Chan Wai is ...
.


Governance

San Tin is one of the 31 constituencies in the
Yuen Long District Yuen Long District (formerly romanised as Un Long) is one of the districts of Hong Kong. Located in the northwest of the New Territories, it had a population of 662,000 in 2021 Geography Yuen Long District contains the largest alluvial pla ...
of
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
. San Tin had estimated population of 20,990 in 2015. The constituency appoints one district councillor to the
Yuen Long District Council The Yuen Long District Council () is the district council for the Yuen Long District in Hong Kong. It is one of 18 such councils. The Yuen Long District currently consists of 45 members, of which the district is divided into 39 constituencies, ...
, with an election every four years.


Councillors elected


Transport


San Tin Highway

San Tin Highway San Tin Highway () is a northeast-southwest expressway at San Tin in north-western New Territories of Hong Kong. San Tin Highway connects Fanling Highway at its northeastern end at San Tin Interchange to a fork at the Tsing Long Highway and Yuen ...
() is a northeast-southwest
expressway Expressway may refer to: * Controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane markings, etc., for high-speed traffic. * Limited-access road, a lower grade of highway or arterial road. *Expressway, the fictional s ...
in north-western New Territories of Hong Kong. San Tin Highway connects
Fanling Highway Fanling Highway () is a part of Route 9 (Hong Kong), Route 9 in Hong Kong. It connects the New towns of Hong Kong, new town of Tai Po New Town, Tai Po and San Tin Highway, passing through Sheung Shui and Fanling on its way. The three lane Controll ...
at its northeastern end at San Tin Interchange"San Tin Interchange" Atkins Global
/ref> to a fork at the Tsing Long Highway and
Yuen Long Highway Yuen Long Highway () is a Hong Kong expressway connecting Au Tau in Yuen Long and Lam Tei in Tuen Mun of New Territories. Part of Route 9, it bypasses Yuen Long Town and the rural areas of Lam Tei, Hung Shui Kiu and Ping Shan, providing a con ...
at Kam Tin River east of
Yuen Long Yuen Long is a town in the western New Territories, Hong Kong. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu (), Tin Shui Wai, Lau Fau Shan and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin (), and to the north Nam Sang W ...
at the southwestern end of the San Tin Highway.
Slip road In the field of road transport, an interchange (American English) or a grade-separated junction (British English) is a road junction that uses grade separations to allow for the movement of traffic between two or more roadways or highways, using ...
s from San Tin Interchange on to San Sham Road lead to
Lok Ma Chau Control Point Lok Ma Chau Control Point () is an immigration control point in Lok Ma Chau, Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong, which is on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. It opened in 1989 as the third road crossing between the ...
2 km to the north."Improvements Works to San Tin Interchange, Lok Ma Chau" chunwo.com
/ref> San Tin Highway is also part of Route 9. The road was completed between 1991 and 1993.


San Tin Public Transport Interchange

The San Tin Public Transport Interchange (San Tin PTI) is a bus, minibus, and taxi interchange adjacent to the San Tin Interchange. At the centre of the San Tin PTI is the Cross Boundary Shuttle Bus Terminus, which serves the Hong Kong border
Lok Ma Chau Control Point Lok Ma Chau Control Point () is an immigration control point in Lok Ma Chau, Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong, which is on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. It opened in 1989 as the third road crossing between the ...
and its counterpart
Huanggang Port Huanggang Port () is a port of entry on the border between mainland China and Hong Kong, in the Futian District of Shenzhen, China. Its counterpart in Hong Kong is the Lok Ma Chau Control Point, located in Lok Ma Chau in Hong Kong's New Territ ...
in Shenzhen. In correspondence with the Lok Ma Chau–Huanggang border crossing being the only 24-hour border crossing between Hong Kong and mainland China,"Access to Lok Ma Chau Control Point" Transport Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
/ref> the San Tin PTI operates 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
/ref> The San Tin PTI also offers bus connections serving
Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point Lok or LOK may refer to: Places * Lok, Serbia, a village * Lok, Levice District, Slovakia, a village * Lok, Pakistan, a village * Loka (pronounced Lok): a plane of existence in Dharma People Surname Lok (English origin) * Anne Locke, Lock o ...
in Hong Kong which corresponds to Futian Checkpoint in Shenzhen.Green Minibus 75 on 16seats.net
/ref> Hong Kong destinations serviced from San Tin PTI are
Tai Lam Tunnel Tai Lam Tunnel ( Chinese: 大欖隧道), running along Tsing Long Highway, is part of Route 3 Country Park Section (R3CPS) and is a transport link between the western New Territories in Ting Kau and Yuen Long. Tai Lam Tunnel was constructed t ...
Toll Plaza,New territories Green Minibus 78 on 16seats.net
/ref>
Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is Hong Kong's main airport, built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. The airport is also referred to as Chek Lap Kok International Airport or ''Chek Lap Kok Airport'', to distinguish ...
and locations at and near 4 major settlements in New Territories (Fanling,A43P service info
/ref> Sheung Shui, Yuen Long
/ref> and Tuen Mun
/ref>). There is a highly infrequent unnumbered service to destinations en route to and from
Kwun Tong Kwun Tong is an area in the Kwun Tong District of Hong Kong, situated at the eastern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, and its boundary stretches from Lion Rock in the north to Lei Yue Mun in the south, and from the winding paths of Kowloon ...
that run almost exclusively as a night service.Un-numbered minibus between Lok Ma Chau and Kwun Tong on 16seats.net
/ref> 616S is a night service between
Mong Kok Mong Kok (also spelled Mongkok, often abbreviated as MK) is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The Prince Edward subarea occupies the northern part of Mong Kok. Mong Kok is one of the major shopping areas in Hong Kong. The area is characterised ...
and Lok Ma Chau Control Point."New Territories Green Minibus Route 616S" 16seats.net
/ref>


San Tin Rail Station

San Tin station The Northern Link is a proposed rapid transit line of the MTR system of Hong Kong which would connect the Tuen Ma line and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line of the East Rail line. The link would also serve as a connection to the border checkpoint to ma ...
() is a proposed station on the Northern Link of the MTR in Hong Kong. As of 2012, there are still no construction plans for the station, although the
Yuen Long District Council The Yuen Long District Council () is the district council for the Yuen Long District in Hong Kong. It is one of 18 such councils. The Yuen Long District currently consists of 45 members, of which the district is divided into 39 constituencies, ...
has pressed the government to construct the station "as soon as possible".


Education

San Tin is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 74. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and one government school: Yuen Long Government Primary School (元朗官立小學).


Military

San Tin Barracks forms part of the
People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to ...
. Prior to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to the
People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, San Tin Barracks was known as Cassino Lines. Nepalese
Ghurka The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Go ...
troops were among those stationed there pre the handover.


References


External links


Hong Kong government brochure
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