Eastern district guide: housing, transport and school nets
Eastern district runs from Fortress Hill to Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan and has the largest population on Hong Kong Island. It has large estates such as Taikoo Shing, Kornhill and Heng Fa Chuen, older buildings in North Point and Shau Kei Wan, and public housing in Chai Wan. It is split between Primary One school nets 14 and 16.
What is Eastern district like?
Eastern district lies along the north-east shore of Hong Kong Island, from Fortress Hill and North Point through Quarry Bay, Taikoo, Sai Wan Ho and Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan. It is mainly residential; Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay is the main office area in Island East.
The area names most used when searching are Fortress Hill, North Point, Quarry Bay, Taikoo, Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan and Siu Sai Wan.
What kinds of home are there?
The district has several large private estates, such as Taikoo Shing, Kornhill, Heng Fa Chuen, Island Resort and City Garden, mostly with two- and three-bedroom flats and established management and facilities. North Point and Shau Kei Wan have many older single-block buildings and walk-ups.
Chai Wan, Shau Kei Wan and Siu Sai Wan have more public rental estates and Home Ownership Scheme courts, while Braemar Hill above North Point is mainly medium to large flats.
How do you get around?
The Island Line stops at Fortress Hill, North Point, Quarry Bay, Tai Koo, Sai Wan Ho, Shau Kei Wan, Heng Fa Chuen and Chai Wan; at North Point and Quarry Bay you can change to the Tseung Kwan O Line across the harbour to Kowloon East and Tseung Kwan O. Trams run from North Point to Shau Kei Wan. The Eastern Harbour Crossing links Quarry Bay with Kowloon East, and the Island Eastern Corridor leads to Central. Siu Sai Wan and Braemar Hill have no MTR station and rely on buses and minibuses.
Schools and school nets
For Primary One central allocation, Eastern district is split into 2 school nets: net 14 (Eastern District (North Point, Quarry Bay)) and net 16 (Eastern District (Shau Kei Wan, Chai Wan)).
Nets are drawn by home address and may change each year, so check the address against the Education Bureau's information before buying or renting. For secondary school places, Eastern district is one secondary school net, and a pupil's net follows the district of the primary school attended, not the home address.
Shops, parks and services
Cityplaza, Kornhill Plaza and the North Point area have malls and wet markets, and streets such as Chun Yeung Street in North Point are lined with stalls and shops. Quarry Bay Park, the eastern waterfront and the hiking trails of Mount Parker and Tai Tam Country Park are close to homes. The district has Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
What should you check when looking in Eastern?
These points come up often in this district. The details of an individual home still need checking with the lister one by one.
- Phases and blocks of a large estate can differ in age by more than ten years, so compare age, orientation and distance to the MTR block by block.
- Flats along the Island Eastern Corridor or near the Chai Wan industrial area: check for traffic noise and goods vehicles.
- Siu Sai Wan and Braemar Hill: work out your commute from the bus frequency and the real time to the MTR.
- Old walk-ups: check for unauthorised structures, and whether ownership of the roof or flat roof is as the listing states.
Common questions
Which school net is Eastern district in?
For Primary One central allocation, Eastern district is split into 2 school nets: net 14 (Eastern District (North Point, Quarry Bay)) and net 16 (Eastern District (Shau Kei Wan, Chai Wan)). Nets are drawn by address and may change each year, so rely on the Education Bureau's information for an individual address.
How easy is it to cross the harbour from Eastern district?
At North Point and Quarry Bay you can change to the Tseung Kwan O Line, which reaches Yau Tong one stop after Quarry Bay for the Kwun Tong Line; drivers can use the Eastern Harbour Crossing. For Tsim Sha Tsui or the eastern New Territories, take the Island Line to Admiralty and change to the Tsuen Wan Line or East Rail Line.