Kowloon City district guide: housing, transport and school nets
Kowloon City district covers Kowloon Tong, Kowloon City, Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, Whampoa, To Kwa Wan and Kai Tak. It has low-density homes and large estates as well as old areas under redevelopment and the new Kai Tak development. The Tuen Ma, Kwun Tong and East Rail lines serve it, and it is split between Primary One school nets 34, 35 and 41.
What is Kowloon City district like?
Kowloon City district lies in the centre and east of the Kowloon peninsula. Kowloon Tong is a low-density residential area with many schools; Ho Man Tin is mainly mid- to high-priced housing; Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai and Kowloon City are older areas; and Kai Tak is a new development on the site of the former airport.
The area names most used when searching are Kowloon City, Kowloon Tong, Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, Whampoa, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai and Kai Tak.
What kinds of home are there?
Kowloon Tong is mainly houses, low-density homes and large flats. Ho Man Tin has private estates with medium to large flats and public estates such as Oi Man Estate and Ho Man Tin Estate. Whampoa Garden and Laguna Verde in Hung Hom are large private estates.
To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Wai and Kowloon City have many old walk-up tenements, a good number of them being redeveloped. The Kai Tak development has seen a large amount of new private and public housing completed in recent years.
How do you get around?
The Tuen Ma Line stops at Kai Tak, Sung Wong Toi, To Kwa Wan, Ho Man Tin and Hung Hom; the Kwun Tong Line at Kowloon Tong, Ho Man Tin and Whampoa; and the East Rail Line at Kowloon Tong and Hung Hom, running under the harbour to Exhibition Centre and Admiralty. The Kowloon end of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is in the district. Some streets in Kowloon City and Kowloon Tong are a long way from a station and rely on buses or minibuses.
Schools and school nets
For Primary One central allocation, Kowloon City district is split into 3 school nets: net 34 (Kowloon City, Ho Man Tin), net 35 (Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan) and net 41 (Kowloon Tong).
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, Kowloon City 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
Kowloon City is known for its restaurants, Kai Tak has large malls and the Kai Tak Sports Park, and Hung Hom and Whampoa have malls and a waterfront promenade. The district has Hong Kong Baptist University and several public and private hospitals.
What should you check when looking in Kowloon City?
These points come up often in this district. The details of an individual home still need checking with the lister one by one.
- School nets: the district is split between Primary One nets 34, 35 and 41, and neighbouring buildings can fall in different nets, so check the address against the Education Bureau's information.
- Redevelopment: To Kwa Wan and Kowloon City have several urban renewal projects, so find out whether the building is inside one and how nearby works will affect it.
- Kai Tak: parts of the new area are still being completed, so walk the route to the MTR and see whether nearby shops have opened.
- Kowloon Tong houses: check restrictions on use, and who owns the parking and garden.
Common questions
Which school net is Kowloon City district in?
For Primary One central allocation, Kowloon City district is split into 3 school nets: net 34 (Kowloon City, Ho Man Tin), net 35 (Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan) and net 41 (Kowloon Tong). Nets are drawn by address and may change each year, so rely on the Education Bureau's information for an individual address.
Does Kai Tak have an MTR station?
Yes. The Tuen Ma Line has Kai Tak and Sung Wong Toi stations, with direct trains to Diamond Hill, Hung Hom, East Tsim Sha Tsui and the New Territories. The Kai Tak development is large, and some sites are a fair walk from a station.