Nam Shan Estate

Nam Ming House, Nam Shan Estate

Nam Shan Estate (Chinese: 南山邨) is a public housing estate in Shek Kip Mei,^[1] Hong Kong, located near Tai Hang Tung Estate, Tai Hang Sai Estate, Yau Yat Tsuen and City University of Hong Kong. The estate is located at Shek Kip Mei and was formerly called "Kowloon Tsai". It comprises 8 residential blocks built in 1977. The apartments are self-contained units with private kitchen and toilet facilities.

History

Nam Shan Estate is located at the former squatter area of Shek Kip Mei. The estate was built for the rehousing of residents affected by the redevelopment of the Tai Hang Tung estate after the fire at the squatter area of the old Tai Hang Tung estate.^[2][3] Its construction began in 1975 and started intake in 1977.

Transportation

Nam Shan Estate is located near the exit B2 of Shek Kip Mei MTR station and could be reached within 10 minutes walk.

Houses

Facilities

• Nam Shan Estate Market
• Nam Shan Shopping Centre
• Nam Shan Estate Multi-storey car park
• Nam Shan General Out-patient Clinic
• Nam Shan District Kai-Fong Welfare Association
• Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service Nam Shan Supported Hostel

Food in Nam Shan Estate

As time passes by, changes occur in the historic estate. Yet, due to the wide age range of residents, Nam Shan Estate stays a mixed culture of past and now.

Noodles

Old Hong Kong fashion restaurants have been selling local cart noodle since the 1970s. Local toppings, such as pig skin, Chinese radish and fish balls are offered over eras.

Ice-cream

Ice cream vendors began selling ice-cream in carts in Nam Shan Estate since many years ago and until now. Traditional iced-pineapple could also be found from these vendors.

Night hawkers

At night, hawkers with food carts will gather in Nam Shan Estate selling local food. Food carts are one of the unique food cultures in Hong Kong. Hawkers would prepare food on their own carts and sell them upon order.

Egg waffle

Freshly made Egg waffles could be found in areas of Nam Shan Estate and is popular among the neighbourhood

Curry sauce squid and barbecue meat

Solely produced squid sticks and barbecue meat which are made with local recipes are available.

Dim Sum

Traditional Chinese dim sum are soldi at mid-night in Nam Shan Estate.

Chinese restaurants

Traditional Chinese restaurants could be found in Nam Shan Estate, providing low-priced local food to the neighbourhood.

Nam Shan Estate and City University of Hong Kong

Food and shops

Nam Shan Estate has a nickname called ‘City University’s canteen’ since the old estate is close to the University which is within 10 minutes on feet and many students dine there. The amount of snack stores is also one of the reasons why Nam Shan Estate got its nickname. Nam Shan Estate is also one of the places where students of City University of Hong Kong purchase stationery for academic purpose since there are few stationery shops available within the area.

Academic use for City University of Hong Kong

In 2012, due to the construction work City University of Hong Kong is having, in order to relieve the overpopulation problem, City University of Hong Kong rent about half of the parking lot in Nam Shan Estate, reconstructed the top four floors as academic classrooms and remain running of carpark on the lowest four floors.

Before renting the parking lot to City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Housing Authority has consulted and received the approval from the Sham Shui Po District Council and Nam Shan Estate Committee. The Town Planning Board has also authorized the alternation of the parking lot, the area for academic use and related facilities is approximately 3900 square meter. Total 260 parking space has been reserved and is claimed that it is sufficient to satisfy the daily consumption.

Myths

The parking lot in Nam Shan Estate is famous for the scaring ghost story. In the early 1990s, Hong Kong newspaper once recorded the incident in Nam Shan Estate parking lot that is well known. While patrolling, the guard heard the voice of pounding in one of the car in the corner. Without seeing any human being, he then called the police and when the police arrived, the pounding voice was still exist. The police scream to the car and said “If you are trap inside the truck, please knock the truck for three times so we can save you.” Then there was three pounding sounds. The police soon opened the truck but nothing was inside. This is famous for the ghosting myth in the parking lot. This story was later adopted in the movie “Love and puff”. It is reported that there were several raping incidents and murder cases which happened in the parking lot during the 1980s; this is said to account for the ghost myth that happened.

See also

• Public housing in Hong Kong
• List of public housing estates in Hong Kong
• Public housing estates in Shek Kip Mei
• Ban Heung Lau

References