HKU station
| Company type | MTR station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | December 28, 2014 |
| Headquarters | Shek Tong Tsui, Western District, Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
| Products | Rapid transit services |
HKU () is an MTR station situated in the Shek Tong Tsui neighborhood within the Western district of Hong Kong. The station derives its name from the nearby University of Hong Kong.
As part of the West Island line, an extension westwards from the original Island line, HKU station commenced operations on 28 December 2014, opening concurrently with Kennedy Town station.
Upon its inauguration, HKU held the distinction of being the largest and deepest cavern-style station in the MTR system,[1] positioned roughly 70 meters beneath the surface.[2][3]
History
Prior to the 1980s, plans existed for an MTR station called Whitty () to be built underground along Des Voeux Road West, near the intersections with Ka On Street, Whitty Street, and Hill Road. Space near Chong Yip Centre and Pacific Plaza was allocated for future station exits and concourse areas. This was part of a proposed Island line extension that ultimately was not realized and was later superseded by the West Island line initiative, which included HKU station.
The MTR Corporation issued tenders for constructing both HKU and stations along with of tunneling works. In 2009, the design and architectural responsibilities were awarded to a partnership between Aedas and AECOM. The contract for construction was granted to Gammon Construction, partially owned by Balfour Beatty, at a cost of HK$4.7 billion. Construction began in 2010 and finished in 2014, with HKU station officially opening on 28 December that year.
Naming
The selection of the station’s name sparked local debate. Some community members pushed for reinstating "Belcher" (, bou2 ceoi3), referencing nearby landmarks such as The Belcher's residential complex, Belcher Street, and Belcher Bay. Critics of MTR Corporation's choice of "University" cited insufficient public consultation and raised concerns about confusion with the existing station on the . Other proposals included naming it "Shek Tong Tsui," after the district served.
In August 2009, MTR announced the name as "Hong Kong University." Subsequently, the English designation was shortened to "HKU," representing the abbreviation for the nearby University of Hong Kong.
Station layout
| G | Ground level | Entrances/Exits |
| C | Concourse | Customer Service Centre |
| P Platforms |
Platform 1 | Template:Rcb towards Template:STN (Template:STN) → |
| Island platform, doors open on right side | ||
| Platform 2 | ← Template:Rcb Island line heading to Template:STN (Terminus) | |
Positioned beneath Pok Fu Lam Road, HKU station comprises two tracks flanking a central island platform. Direct elevator access links the station with the University of Hong Kong campus, facilitating convenient transit. At approximately , it ranks as the deepest station across the MTR network.
Safety features at HKU include specially designed refuge areas outfitted with pressurization systems, fire suppression equipment such as sprinklers and fire curtains, along with independent power sources. This station is pioneering within the MTR system by integrating these shelter provisions and utilizing lifts for emergency evacuation purposes, demonstrating enhanced safety measures.
Exits
HKU station offers six access points, with exits A1, A2, and C1 situated deep within Mid-Levels and accessible solely via express elevators—making it the inaugural MTR station to feature lift-exclusive exits. Both A1 and A2 are equipped with eight elevators each, capable of carrying up to 1,800 kg per lift, whereas C1 contains four elevators with a 2,100 kg capacity each.
- A1: Pok Fu Lam Road (adjacent to Haking Wong Building), St. Paul's College, St. Stephen's Church College
- A2: Main Campus of the University of Hong Kong, Chow Yei Ching Building, Haking Wong Building
- B1: Whitty Street, Chong Yip Shopping Centre, Shek Tong Tsui Municipal Services Building
- B2: Hill Road, Hong Kong Plaza, JEN Hong Kong by Shangri-La
- C1: The Belcher's, Pok Fu Lam Road, University of Hong Kong Centennial Campus
- C2: Belcher's Street, Harbour One, The Westwood
Future
Plans designate HKU station as an interchange linking the Island line with the South Island line (West), where the platforms for the South Island line will be constructed beneath those of the Island line.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/mtrhk/posts/172898209513539/
- ↑ https://www4.hku.hk/pubunit/Bulletin/2015_May_Vol.16_No.2/news_in_brief/page6.html#:~:text%3DLocated%2070%20metres%20below%20ground,one%20to%20the%20Centennial%20Campus%2E
- ↑ https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1643932/emergency-refuge-areas-deepest-mtr-stop#:~:text%3DSafety%20procedures%20highlighted%20at%20HKU,concourse%2C%20in%20case%20of%20emergency%2E