Western District (Hong Kong)
| Sai Wan | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 西環 | ||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 西环 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | West Ring | ||||||||||
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| Transcriptions | |
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| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Xīhuán |
| Yue: Cantonese | |
| Jyutping | sai1 waan4 |
Sai Wan (Chinese: 西環, Western District or simply Western) is an area in Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong that corresponds to Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui, Belcher Bay and Kennedy Town. However, Some Hong Kong people consider Kennedy Town as the only part of Sai Wan. It formed part of the City of Victoria. West Point, a former cape where major government structures in Sai Wan are close to, also used to refer to Sai Wan. After Hong Kong's handover to People's republic of China, Sai Wan become the location for Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and people in Hong Kong tend to refer the name Sai Wan as the PRC office itself..
In the early 1800s, Sai Ying Pun was known as a place to settle the Chinese immigrants. It was built from the west of Tai Ping Shan. Europeans were also assigned to live in the same area. However, they were separated at the High Street where Chinese were excluded from living.
In 1880, sewerage was installed into the area, with the main flow coming down Centre Street. Streets were covered with macadam and concreted at the same time.
In 1890s, a severe epidemic outbreak of the bubonic plague afflicted Sai Ying Pun residents. Sheung Fung Lane residents were almost wiped out during the period. Government Reports identified this area as the no. IX health district and went into great detail about the buildings where the disease occurred. The neighboring area, Tai Ping Shan, was the most infected place in the city. It was resumed, abandoned and demolished to improve hygiene.
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Wikipedia