HongKon 2012-2013


Hong Kong Island and Kowloon: This was photographed in December 2012 by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D.,PhD.

Hong Kong consists of a peninsula and 236 islands on China's south coast and enclosed by Peal River Delta and
South China Sea. Hong Kong has developed into one of the world's top financial centers. It has highly developed
capitalist economy, and has the high degree of autonomy in all areas except foreign affairs and defence.
Renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour, its identity as a cosmopolitan center where east
meets west is reflected in its cuisine, cinema, music and traditions.


(L) Location of Hong Kong (R) Satellete photo of Hong Kong

A panoramic view of Hong Kong Island and International finance Centre,'ifc':
This was photographed in December 2012. This skyscraper is the second largest, behind in International Commerce Centre,
ICC Tower, on Kowloon. Hong Kong Station of the Airpoirt Express is directly beneath the tower building.

High-rise condominiums in Kowloon:
This picture was photographed from the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre, ICC Tower, in December 2012.

(L) This 484-m high skyscraper was completed in 2010 at Kowloon. It is currently the world's fifth tallest building,
and third by floor basis. The observation floor, 'Sky100', is located on the 100th floor of the 118-storey ICC Tower.
(R) The left-side building is the ICC Tower.

According to Emporis, there are 1,223 skyscrapers in Hong Kong, which puts the city at the top of world
rankings. It has more buildings higher than150m than any other city. The high density and tall skyline of
Hong Kong's urban area are due to a lack of available sprawl space, with the average distance from the
harbour front to the steep hills of Hong Kong Island is 1.3 km. Much of it is a reclaimed land. This lack of
space causes demands for dense, high-rise offices and housing. Thirty-six of the world's 100 tallest
residential buildings are in Hong Kong. More people in Hong Kong live or work above the 14th floor than
anywhere else on Earth, making it the world's most vertical city.
Reference: Wikipedia


Hong Kong's skyscrapers and a congested container-port

A high density of building and a new land development at HongKong 2012

Condominium sale price index: Photo source: NHK BS1 TV, February 17, 2013

Hong Kong's property market faced the risk of a sharp correction as prices had tripled from the time through
in 2003, at which, an investment visa to Hong Kong has introduced. Many Chinese people bought a condo-
minium with the beneficiary of new rule. However, IMF warns Hong Kong property market at moderate risk
of fall.


Google Map of Hong Kong

Hong Kong's transportation network


A traffic jam at Cross Harbour Tunnel in Kowloon: It links the main financial and commercial districts on both sides of Victoria Habour.
This tunnel was constructed in 1972.

(L) The Western Habour Tunnel is crossing Victoria Harbour, which connects the newly reclaimed land of west Koeloon with Sai Ying Pun.
This tunnel was constructed in1997. (R) So many boats in Victoria Bay, Hong Kong


Hong Kong's transportation network is highly developed. Over 90% of 11 million daily travels are on public
transport, the highest percentage in the world. Payment can be made using the Octopus card, a stored value
system introduced by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which is a comprehensive rail network for the whole
territory. This MTR rapid transit system has 152 stations, which serve 3.4 million people a day. Hong Kong
Tramways, which has served the territory since 1904, covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island.

A tourist Day Pass is convenient for a frequent ride of MTR. It is good for 24 consecutive hours from the
recorded entry time of the first journey on the MTR.


Airport Express Airport Station

(L) A sign plate to guide the express train (M) Kowloon Airport Express Station (R) Station-guidance electric board

(L) Interior of the Airport Express train (R) A sign plate to show the Airport Express shuttle bus

Airport Express Hong Kong Station

(L) A sign board about the In-town Check-in (M) A bus-stop for a free shuttle bus (R) An airport shuttle bus

(L) The information chart of train tickets (R) A sign plate for using the airport express train

The Airport Express is one of the lines of the MTR serving Hong Kong. It links the principal urban areas of
Hong Kong to Hong Kong International Airport. Airport Express is not primarily a rapid transit, although,
a premium fare express service to and from the airport, every 10 minutes during daytime, and every 12
minutes at midnight, intended to provide similar levels of comfort to that found on an airliner. The average
maximum speed between stations is 130 kms per hour.

The Airport Express Shuttle-bus is a complimentary add-on service provided exclusively for Airport Express
passengers traveling between Hong Kong or Kowloon station and major hotels. Four bus routes and five bus
routes are provided from Hong Kong and Kowloon station, respectively. Before boarding, it is needed to
show the Airport Express train ticket.



Airport Express from Hong Kong International Airport ( 10.59 min.)
Airport Express to Hong Kong International Airport ( 13:15 min )


A beautiful suspension bridge over Rambler Channel, Ting Kau

The bridge is a 1,177 meter long cable-stayed bridge, that is next to Tsing Ma Bridge, which is partly seen
in the right bottom of this picture. It serves highway and railroad of the Airport Express railway linking the
airport and kowloon or Hong Kong.


(L) The underground passageway to the MTR Kowloon station (L) MTR Central Station plateform

A MTR system map


(L) Interior of MTR train (R) MTR Mong Kok station

(L) A video surveillance system is used by MTR. (R) Interior of MTR train and a priority seat:
Most of Hong Kong's MTR passengers often make mutual concessions to an elderly person, at any train seats.

(L) Interior of MTR train and a priority seat (R) MTR Sunny Bay station

(L) Pasengers were excited to ride a special train veicle for Disneyland. (R) MTR Disneyland station

A train specic for the Disneyland MTR line

(L) MTR Sunny Bay station plateform for Hong Kong Station
(M) Lai King Station (R) All undergroung MTR halls are very spacious.
An automated MRT train runs from Disneyland to Sunny Bay station.

Hong Kong Tramways is one of the earliest forms of public transport in Hong Kong. The tramway runs on
Hong Kong Island between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town. Trams in Hong Kong have not only been
a form of transport for over 100 years, but also a major tourist attraction and traveling tool in Hong Kong.
It is the only exclusively double-deck operated tram system in the world.


(L) A double-deck tram, the oldest transportation on the Hong Kong Island (R) A tram runs on the Queensway and DesVoeux Road.

(L) A double-deck tram at Hong Kong Island (R) A view from the tram of the Central, Hong Kong Island

A double-deck tram in Hong Kong Island

MTR train stations provide a fast-operating escalator to promote many passengers to move quickly. At first,
we are perplexed for the speed of the escalator. However, it began to feel us rather vitalize. The MTR operates
trains at a frequent interval, and it is very convenient. I was very impressed many passengers are heart-
warming and instantly give a seat to an elderly person in a train. This phenomenon is not so common in
a Tokyo's train vehicle.

High-speed train links the huge economic zone in Hong Kong and Guangdong.
　　広東・香港に巨大経済圏　高速鉄道が開通 2018

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


　Railway Travel in the World
　　　All railway trains should be completely smoke -free.
　鉄道全面禁煙化は世界の常識　Smoking ban in the railway trains of the world


香港国際空港からのエアポートエクスプレスは日中は約10分おきに運行しており、九龍駅と香港駅とを短時間で結んで
いる。到着した鉄道駅からは主要なホテルまで無料のシャトルバスが往復している。ただし、バス乗車前にエアポート
エクスプレスの乗車カード（Round trip HK$160/180）を見せねばならない。両駅にはインタウン・チェックイン
設備が完備しており搭乗1時間30分前までであれば航空機への搭乗手続きを済ませることが出来るので大変便利である。

香港滞在中に地下鉄を頻繁に利用される方には24時間、自由に乗り降りできる、Tourist Day Pass （1日フリ−パス：
HK$55）が便利である。エアポートエクスプレスの乗車カードに72時間のフリーライドを組み入れたものもある。

香港の地下鉄は頻繁に運行され各線ごとの乗り換えは、そう難しくない。多くはホームを降りると、その前に次の電車が
おり、直ぐに出発するような場合が多い。非常に多くの香港市民と旅行客とが利用しており、すいていることは少ない。
乗り換え表示板も分かりやすく、ホームにはその電車の停車駅が表示されているので、まず乗り間違えることはない。
香港の多くの駅のエスカレーターの速度は速く多くの乗降客を短時間でさばいている。最初はその速度に戸惑うが、
なれれば早く移動でき、むしろ快適である。乗客は右側に立ち左側を追い越し用にあけている。この習慣は車が右側
通行である国では左側を空けているが、ここ香港ではその逆である。日本では車は左側通行なので右側に行儀よく並んで
いる。ただ、エスカレーターでの追い越しには危険性が伴うので、こうした習慣がよいとは言い切れない。ちなみに
中国本土では車は右側通行である。

香港の地下鉄内で感心したことは優先席に限らず、高齢者に対し、乗客が席を譲り合う姿を、しばしば目にしたこと
である。中国本土とは別の英国統治時代のよき伝統が残されているのであろう。東京では若者が優先席に座り込み、
たとえお年寄りが前に立っていても、禁止されている携帯電話やスマートホンに熱中していることが多い。友人や
家族以外の人には無頓着で温かさを欠く、高齢者や健康弱者を配慮しない、こした風潮が定着しているようでは、
残念ながら日本の将来は必ずしも明るいと安心していられない。

Hong Kong/Macau
Hong Kong and HongKong Railway 2012 Hong Kong life Smoking ban in Hong Kong
Hotels of Hong Kong High-Speed Rail from/to HongKong
Macau Hotels of Macau


　経済的発展を続けている国際都市、香港: 2012-2013
撮影　2012年12月 　執筆 2013年1月　加筆 2013年2月　医学博士　宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
A photograph was taken in December 2012, and article was written in January 2013,
and information was added in June 2019, by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
Copyright (C) 2013 Junhaku Miyamoto, All rights reserved.


Hongkong 2007
Tour in Beijing, Nanjing and and Shanghai 2019