Southern district guide: housing, transport and school nets
Southern district covers the south of Hong Kong Island, from Pok Fu Lam, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau to Repulse Bay, Stanley and Shek O, with hills and a long coastline. The South Island Line reaches only Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau; the rest relies on buses and minibuses. The district is Primary One school net 18.
What is Southern district like?
Southern district includes Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport, Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Wong Chuk Hang, as well as Shouson Hill, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Shek O. Most of it is hills, country parks and coast, and it is less densely populated than the districts on the north shore. Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau are where most people live.
The area names most used when searching are Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport, Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau, Wong Chuk Hang, Shouson Hill, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Shek O.
What kinds of home are there?
Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau have large private estates such as South Horizons and Aberdeen Centre, and public estates such as Wah Fu Estate, Ap Lei Chau Estate and Lei Tung Estate. Pok Fu Lam has Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Baguio Villa and Residence Bel-Air at Cyberport. A large new development has been completed above Wong Chuk Hang Station in recent years.
Shouson Hill, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay and Stanley are mainly houses, low-density homes and large flats, and are long-established luxury areas; Shek O and Tai Tam have a small number of village houses and detached houses.
How do you get around?
The South Island Line runs from Admiralty through Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang and Lei Tung to South Horizons in about eleven minutes. Aberdeen town centre, Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport, Repulse Bay and Stanley have no MTR station and rely on buses, minibuses and taxis through the Aberdeen Tunnel or along Pok Fu Lam Road; the Aberdeen Tunnel is often congested at peak times.
Schools and school nets
For Primary One central allocation, Southern district is school net 18 (Southern District).
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, Southern 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
Aberdeen Centre and South Horizons have malls and wet markets, and Stanley has Stanley Plaza and its market. The district has Queen Mary Hospital, Ocean Park, several beaches, Aberdeen and Pok Fu Lam country parks, and a number of international schools.
What should you check when looking in Southern?
These points come up often in this district. The details of an individual home still need checking with the lister one by one.
- Places without an MTR station: judge your commute by bus and minibus frequency, journey time and tunnel congestion.
- Seafront flats: ask how salt, damp and the afternoon sun affect window frames, air-conditioners and repair costs.
- Houses and low-density homes: check who owns the garden, roof and parking, and who is responsible for maintaining any slope.
- The redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate has been announced, so nearby areas will see construction and a change in population.
Common questions
Which school net is Southern district in?
For Primary One central allocation, Southern district is school net 18 (Southern District). Nets are drawn by address and may change each year, so rely on the Education Bureau's information for an individual address.
Which parts of Southern district have the MTR?
The South Island Line has four stations in the district: Ocean Park, Wong Chuk Hang, Lei Tung and South Horizons. Aberdeen town centre, Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport, Repulse Bay, Stanley and Shek O have no MTR station.