North district guide: housing, transport and school nets
North district covers Sheung Shui, Fanling, Kwu Tung, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling and borders Shenzhen. Sheung Shui and Fanling are new towns, the countryside has many village houses, and the Kwu Tung North and Fanling North new development areas are under construction. The East Rail Line serves it, and it is split between Primary One school nets 80, 81 and 83.
What is North district like?
North district is in the north-east New Territories and contains the land boundary crossings at Lo Wu, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Heung Yuen Wai. Most people live in the new towns of Sheung Shui and Fanling; much of the rest is countryside, villages and farmland.
The area names most used when searching are Sheung Shui, Fanling, Kwu Tung, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling.
What kinds of home are there?
Sheung Shui and Fanling have public rental estates, Home Ownership Scheme courts and private estates, including Sheung Shui Centre, Fanling Centre, Fanling Town Center and Dawning Views. The rural areas have many village houses.
The Kwu Tung North and Fanling North new development areas are under construction and will add a large amount of public and private housing.
How do you get around?
The East Rail Line stops at Fanling, Sheung Shui and Lo Wu, with trains running under the harbour to Admiralty. Fanling Highway leads towards Tai Po and Yuen Long. Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling have no railway and rely on buses and minibuses; entering Sha Tau Kok town requires a Closed Area Permit.
Schools and school nets
For Primary One central allocation, North district is split into 3 school nets: net 80 (Sheung Shui), net 81 (Fanling) and net 83 (Sha Tau Kok, Ta Kwu Ling).
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, North 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
Around Sheung Shui and Fanling stations are malls such as Landmark North, Metropolis Plaza and Fanling Town Center, and Shek Wu Hui and Luen Wo Hui have wet markets and street shops. The district has North District Hospital and North District Park.
What should you check when looking in North?
These points come up often in this district. The details of an individual home still need checking with the lister one by one.
- Village houses: check title, right of way, unauthorised structures, parking and drainage, and find out whether the property is inside a new development area or land resumption boundary.
- Commuting: the East Rail journey from Sheung Shui or Fanling to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island is long, so work out the whole trip from the flat to your workplace.
- The area around Sheung Shui Station is crowded on holidays and at peak times, so see what getting in and out is like when you view.
- Low-lying rural sites: ask about drainage and whether the place has flooded before.
Common questions
Which school net is North district in?
For Primary One central allocation, North district is split into 3 school nets: net 80 (Sheung Shui), net 81 (Fanling) and net 83 (Sha Tau Kok, Ta Kwu Ling). Nets are drawn by address and may change each year, so rely on the Education Bureau's information for an individual address.
Does Kwu Tung have an MTR station?
Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line is under construction. Until it opens, Kwu Tung relies on buses and minibuses to Sheung Shui Station.