A low-density, high-end residential area called Jardine's Lookout can be found between Wong Nai Chung Gap and Mount Butler. The residential area of Jardine's Lookout consists of thirteen roads named after famous British persons during Hong Kong's colonial times. Addresses on Tai Hang Road, Tai Hang Drive and Chun Fai Road are considered to be Tai Hang Mid-levels or Happy Valley, not Jardine's Lookout.[2]
In December 2023, property developer Citic launched a development at 135 Tai Hang Road named "Jardini" and claimed that it is located in Jardine's Lookout.[3] However, this site is geographically below Mount Butler with Jardine's Lookout on the western side. In 2004, Cheung Kong launched a project The Legend on Tai Hang Drive and also put Jardine's Lookout as part of the name. Subsequently, all property agents have been correctly describing its location as Tai Hang or Tai Hang Mid-levels. Although both Jardini and the Legend are within the boundaries of “Plan No. S/H13/12” titled “Jardine’s Lookout & Wong Nai Chung Gap (HPA 13)” Outline Zoning Plan, they are in Tai Hang Mid-levels. Titles of such plans by the Town Planning Board are not intended for urban development and zoning purposes only.[4] It also includes various addresses around “Wong Nai Chung Gap,” namely Hong Kong Tennis Centre on 133 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road and Park Place on Tai Tam Reservoir Road, with the latter being a residential building under “Mid-levels East.” Similarly, Adventist Hospital and many residential buildings located on Stubbs Road, including Nicholson Tower, Highcliff, Villa Monte Rosa, the former Rosaryhill School and existing Bradbury School, are the boundaries of OZP Plan No. S/H4/13 (The Peak Area). All these addresses are under B09 (Stubbs Road) of Wan Chai according to Reference Two. The residential buildings are generally classified under Mid-levels East by property agencies. There are no sources that refer to the Adventist Hospital and the two schools to being in The Peak. Certain residential buildings on Magazine Gap Road, such as Magazine Gap Towers and Magazine Heights, are within OZP Plan No. S/H4/13 (The Peak Area). All these buildings, and many more nearby, are referred to as “Mid-levels” or “Mid-levels Central” according to all sources including property agencies, and not “The Peak.”
History
Jardine's Lookout is named after William Jardine, founder of Jardine Matheson. It was from here, in the days of the sailing ships, that a watch was kept for the first glimpse of the sails of the firm's clippers coming from India and London. As soon as a vessel was signaled, a fast whaleboat was sent out to collect Jardines' mails. The correspondence was rushed back to the office so that the directors could have the first possible information on the world's markets. (This practice saved the company on at least one occasion, in 1866, when it learned of the collapse of the discount house Overend, Gurney and Company, about one hour before others did, and quickly withdrew its balances at a local bank before anyone else had heard of the news.)
Jardine's Lookout was the sight of fierce conflict in the Battle of Hong Kong and particularly, the Battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap. The Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Corps and Middlesex Machine gunners manned two pillboxes and other areas defending the pass around Jardine's Catchwater, as well as Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers defending the adjacent Mount Butler. Japanese forces, after landing on the North Shore of Hong Kong Island; used Sir Cecil's Ride and moved up to this pass midway up the lookout and were engaged by Commonwealth forces. The fighting was the preliminary conflict in the Battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap.
Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butler are popular for hikers who can enjoy scenery of Victoria Harbour.[5] There are different routes to the top of the mountains and hikers often start near Hong Kong Parkview through Wilson Trail. Jardine's Lookout Gallery Route has some of the most beautiful sceneries of Hong Kong Island.[6]
Residential area
Due to its scenic view and low population density, Jardine's Lookout is an affluent neighbourhood with the most expensive houses in Hong Kong, with prices higher than Victoria Peak.[7] The residents of this community include highly placed expatriates, government officials and successful business people.
Although Jardine's Lookout is commonly known as where Cavendish Heights is located at, the multi-block estate sits on the fringe of Jardine's Lookout, on the border of Mount Butler, which is on the eastern side of block one.[8] Residential buildings such as Park Garden, Flora Garden and Elm Tree Towers on Tai Hang Drive and Chun Fai Road are considered as the upper part of Tai Hang, below Mount Butler not Jardine's Lookout.[9][10]
Jardine's Lookout has large detached houses in private lots and more moderate townhouses on its thirteen roads. Low-rise and high-rise apartments make up the rest of the community. Houses in private lots include ones built in the 1950s which were in recent years sold to wealthy mainlanders. In 2015, Cheung Chung-kiu, Chairman of CC Land, reportedly purchased 1 Purves Road for about HK$760 million, or around HK$100,000 per square foot.[11] In 2019, Joseph Lau Luen-hung's residence at Goldsmith Road ranked the fifth as Hong Kong's most expensive residential properties in rental value estimated by the Hong Kong Government, with an annual estimated rental value of HK$8.23 million.[12] In 2018, this house was reportedly by Apple Daily to be worth HK$2.5 billion.[13] Translating into HK$250,000 per sq. ft. based on internal floor area of around 10,000 square feet, it is the most valuable house in Hong Kong, followed by 75 Deep Water Bay Road. In 2020, the site at 20 Perkins Road was sold for HK$850 million representing a 40 percent drop compared to previous market transactions. This price translated into over HK$82,000 per square foot compared to another site on Perkins Road in 2018 which changed hands at HK$145,000 per square foot.[14]
Jardine's Lookout has no hospitals, few public facilities, and very few local and overseas tourists. Only single detached houses can be built on private lots of most of the streets.[15][16]
Jardine's Lookout has a grocery store, deli, florists, post office and many small provisions stores. This community is conveniently linked with public transportation and well-equipped with facilities. Jardine's Lookout is only a 10-minute drive to Central and 5-minute drive to Causeway Bay, (given good traffic) where the Cross-Harbour Tunnel is located, making the travel to Kowloon easy.
In June 2016, the Government of Canada sold the official residence of the Consul General located at 6 Goldsmith Road.[18]
Education
Jardine's Lookout is in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 12. Within the school net are multiple aided schools (operated independently but funded with government money) and the following government schools: Hennessy Road Government Primary School and Sir Ellis Kadoorie (Sookunpo) Primary School.[19]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Jardine's_Lookout, and is written by contributors.
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