Wo Hop Shek
Encyclopedia
Wo Hop Shek is an area in the south of Fanling
, Hong Kong
. It consists of villages and recently developed housing estates. The area is famous for its large public cemetery, Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
, on the nearby hillside. Every year, during the Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival, many people come to visit their ancestors.
was built to transport bodies of civilian
s killed in World War II
, and later to cater the visitor in Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival. The whole single track
branch was built upon an embankment
. It branched off south of Fanling
Station, at the start of the curve. The station at Wo Hop Shek was the most modern of all stations in Hong Kong at the time it was built, and instead of being a brick built structure as other stations were it was of cement and steel. Special vehicles were built to carry the bodies. The branch was abandoned after the railway was electrified in 1983. No traces can be found now of the line, but the site of the station survives as a roundabout. The start of the branch is now marked by a red gate visible on the Fanling side of the Jockey Club Road bridge, which used to be a level crossing.
(or Ho Yuen, in Cantonese), in Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
, was established for the civil servants who die of injuries during their duty. In 2000, permanent earth burial was extended to both civil servants and non-civil servants who died of exceptional bravery on duty. There is also a big Buddhist-Taoist monastery built near the cemetery. There are many shops in the villages which makes stone graves.
built after 1983, as reflected on the fact that part of the original trackbed of the railway branch is occupied by two of the estates.
Fanling
Fanling , also known as Fan Ling and Fan Leng, is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the North District...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It consists of villages and recently developed housing estates. The area is famous for its large public cemetery, Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery , in Wo Hop Shek near Fanling in Hong Kong, is the largest public cemetery in Hong Kong. The cemetery opened in 1950 in the New Territories as cemeteries began to reach capacity on Hong Kong Island. Wo Hop Shek covers 222.4 hectares with space for full and cremated...
, on the nearby hillside. Every year, during the Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival, many people come to visit their ancestors.
Railway
In 1950-1951, a Wo Hop Shek Branch (:zh:和合石支線) (in fact only a long siding) of Kowloon-Canton RailwayKowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon–Canton Railway refers to a railway network in Hong Kong which is now combined with the MTR railway system, comprising rapid transit services, a light rail system and feeder bus routes within Hong Kong, and intercity passenger and freight train services to the rest of China...
was built to transport bodies of civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
s killed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and later to cater the visitor in Ching Ming Festival and Chung Yeung Festival. The whole single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
branch was built upon an embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
. It branched off south of Fanling
Fanling (KCR)
Fanling Station is a station on Hong Kong's East Rail Line. It is next to Fanling Town Centre, and is only a short walk away from Fung Ying Seen Koon, a well-known Taoist temple. The Fanling Highway was built from 1983 to 1987 directly adjacent to the station...
Station, at the start of the curve. The station at Wo Hop Shek was the most modern of all stations in Hong Kong at the time it was built, and instead of being a brick built structure as other stations were it was of cement and steel. Special vehicles were built to carry the bodies. The branch was abandoned after the railway was electrified in 1983. No traces can be found now of the line, but the site of the station survives as a roundabout. The start of the branch is now marked by a red gate visible on the Fanling side of the Jockey Club Road bridge, which used to be a level crossing.
Gallant Garden
In 1996, Gallant GardenGallant Garden
Gallant Garden , in Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery at Wo Hop Shek, Hong Kong, was established in November 1996 for civil servants who lost their lives on duty. In 2000, permanent earth burial was extended to both civil servants and non-civil servants who died with exceptional bravery while on duty...
(or Ho Yuen, in Cantonese), in Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery
Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery , in Wo Hop Shek near Fanling in Hong Kong, is the largest public cemetery in Hong Kong. The cemetery opened in 1950 in the New Territories as cemeteries began to reach capacity on Hong Kong Island. Wo Hop Shek covers 222.4 hectares with space for full and cremated...
, was established for the civil servants who die of injuries during their duty. In 2000, permanent earth burial was extended to both civil servants and non-civil servants who died of exceptional bravery on duty. There is also a big Buddhist-Taoist monastery built near the cemetery. There are many shops in the villages which makes stone graves.
Housing estates
They are mostly public housing estatesPublic housing in Hong Kong
Public housing in Hong Kong is a set of mass housing programmes through which the Government of Hong Kong provides affordable housing for lower-income residents. It is a major component of housing in Hong Kong, with nearly half of the population now residing in some form of public housing...
built after 1983, as reflected on the fact that part of the original trackbed of the railway branch is occupied by two of the estates.
- Avon Park
- Cheong Shing Court
- Dawning Views
- King Shing Court
- Wah Ming Estate
- Wah Sum Estate
- Yan Shing Court
- Yung Shing Court