“I like the new face of Kwun Tong which is full of energy with young people, new office buildings and commercial centers,” says local entrepreneur Ben Lau.
As Hong Kong was recovering from the Second World War, manufacturing centers began popping up around the city. By the 1950s, the Kwun Tong district was emerging as one of the area’s key industrial villages—with refugees pouring over the border from Mainland China and capitalists descending on the harborside community to provide jobs. As the growth of the community continued and more and more public houses were springing up for the influx of workers, Kwun Tong became formally known as the Satellite City: Hong Kong’s city-within-a-city. The introduction of the MTR to the district in the 1980s brought further convenience, property development, and with it, an urban feel to the neighborhood.
However, by the end of the 80s and the start of the 90s, the economy in Hong Kong switched from industry-based to service-based, and so Kwun Tong began to change. As traditional manufacturing activities relocated to the Mainland, many industrial buildings were either left vacant or under-utilized. If you take a wander around Kwun Tong today, you’ll see how this shift has left the area in flux. Peek into the old industrial buildings and you’ll find a new generation of workers is setting up business there: young artists, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs in search of larger spaces and cheaper rents. Business owner Ben Lau has been in Kwun Tong for more than 30 years and has witnessed the changes: “In the past, Kwun Tong was an old town where you were surrounded by factory buildings and most of the people you could meet here were blue-collar workers. Now the area has been revitalized and Kwun Tong has completely changed. I like the new face of Kwun Tong which is full of energy with young people, new office buildings and commercial centers.”
These old spaces don’t just provide a roof for these new creatives; they’re providing inspiration. Pop into the KaCaMa Design Lab and you’ll see how these young designers are turning waste into art—using hangers, corks and natural food dyes, the team creates innovative home and lifestyle pieces. Nearby Sealing Stone DIY Studio can teach you how to turn traditional Chinese handicrafts such as etching, carving and printing into modern accessories. The Salt Yard (a photography library) and Bon Appetit Cooking Studio (which offers practical classes) have both made good use of former industrial buildings to start up their own businesses. Even the world–class gallery Osage Sigma has opened up an exhibition space in the district. It’s not just artists and designers who are moving in; retailers are fast catching on too. The most popular industrial building, the Camel Paint Building, is a retail outlet paradise for shoppers from all over Hong Kong and beyond: you’ll find the latest fashions and cosmetics, plus wholesale food and even an urban farm. This cluster has helped Kwun Tong reach prominence as a shopping and cultural district.
Kwun Tong is a great destination location for foodies, packed with lots of gems hidden down its backstreets. The new Landmark East tower is a diamond in the rough and home to the famously innovative MIC Kitchen, a new concept by “demon chef” Alvin Leung, who was awarded three Michelin stars for his Bo Innovation restaurant in Wan Chai. Whether you’re searching for Thai or Japanese cuisine, local or international flavors, fine dining venues or family-run canteens, you’ll find it here. As Kwun Tong sits just on the harbor, it’s a haven for seafood connoisseurs who make a beeline for the Lei Yue Mun Seafood Bazaar. Make sure to stop here for some of Hong Kong’s best fresh seafood— you can pick live from the market, take it to one of the 20-plus Chinese restaurants by the water and tell them how you want it cooked. It will be steamed, fried or poached and on your table in a matter of minutes.
As well as the revitalization of old buildings, there are many new projects that are changing the character of Kwun Tong. The 700-square-meter, two-storey Jockey Club Lei Yue Mun Plus was repurposed from an old school in 2011 and is used to promote arts and culture in the community. It comprises spaces for performing arts, a ceramic workshop, a café and a rooftop garden overlooking the Lei Yue Mun Pass. Visitors can take part in year-round workshops, educational tours, exhibitions and other cultural programs. The Kwun Tong Town Centre Project is a future development to regenerate the area that will cover more than 50,000 square meters and include new commercial buildings, residential properties, leisure and recreational amenities, open landscaped spaces and other facilities. These numerous projects—both new and old—are changing the face of Kwun Tong, creating a focal point for East Kowloon’s thriving cultural scene.
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