Hong Kong Island’s Chai Wan evolves from a forgotten suburb to a hiking gateway, artistic hub and gentrified commuting base
Artists and commuters appreciate the area’s affordable property and easy links to Shek O and Quarry Bay
For a long time, Chai Wan was the forgotten suburb at the end of the MTR’s Hong Kong Island Line, and dominated by public housing and industrial buildings.
Nowadays, the district can be roughly divided into three sections: the high-density residential clusters on the waterfront; the medium-density neighbourhood off the uphill Chai Wan Road; and the industrial zone.
The two largest residential communities in Chai Wan are the older Heng Fa Chuen, which is served by an MTR station of the same name, and the newer Island Resort on the Siu Sai Wan waterfront.
Heng Fa Chuen was developed in the 1980s, phase by phase, as part of the MTR development. It now comprises 48 residential blocks, with a waterfront promenade focal point for leisure activities. The flats offer a diverse range of floor plans for different housing needs.
Like Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Tai Koo Shing or City One Sha Tin, which were built in the same era, Heng Fa Chuen is a self-contained community. Daily shopping or commutes are easy, with all major transport links and a shopping arcade in the area.
Owing to its scale and popularity, Heng Fa Chuen has long been viewed as a so-called “blue-chip” housing estate indicating residential market activity. Between March 2016 and last month, an average of 14 flats changed hand across the complex, and at an average price of HK$12,950 per square foot, according to Land Registry records.
There is always demand for good-quality rentals at Heng Fa Chuen and Island Resort, particularly from professionals who work in the nearby Quarry Bay office area, estate agents say. Wendy Chiu, an associate director at Qfang.com, which has several offices across Hong Kong and the New Territories, says the company recently rented out a 473 sq ft, two-bedroom flat in Heng fa Chuen for HK$17,000 per month, or about HK$35.90 per square foot.