Heng Fa Chuen
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate, Property development |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Founder | MTR Corporation and Heng Fa Chuen Development Company Limited (joint venture) |
| Headquarters | Chai Wan , Hong Kong |
Area served | Eastern District, Hong Kong Island |
Key people | Simon Kwan and Associates (architectural design), Carson Construction (contractor) |
| Products | Residential apartments, Commercial retail (Paradise Mall) |
| Owner | MTR Corporation (property management) |
Heng Fa Chuen is a privately owned residential complex located in Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island. It was developed through a collaboration between the MTR Corporation and Heng Fa Chuen Development. Positioned along the waterfront, the estate provides scenic vistas of the Tathong Channel and is situated within the Eastern District.
History
Constructed on land reclaimed from Pak Sha Wan and Lei Yue Mun Bay, Heng Fa Chuen occupies an area that previously featured a beach and quarry. The transformation took place in the early 1980s alongside the building of the Island line. Originally called "Chai Wan Quay," the MTR later renamed and repositioned the station as part of its plan to develop the property above the station and depot.
Reclamation efforts for this 15-hectare plot commenced in 1978. To facilitate greater development opportunities, the airport height restriction was increased from 30.48 metres to 60 metres in 1984. The architectural design was led by Simon Kwan and Associates, while Carson Construction served as the principal contractor.
The development was a joint venture between the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and Heng Fa Chuen Development Company Limited, a consortium that included Kerry Trading, Kiu Kwong Investment Corporation (associated with Bank of China), and Riverkent Limited. Management of all residential buildings falls under MTR Property Management.
The initial batch of 448 apartments sold out by 25 July 1985. By 1986, 17 blocks situated above the railway depot were completed and handed over to residents, with the remaining 31 blocks facing Victoria Harbour finalized several years afterward.
Housing
Heng Fa Chuen consists of 48 residential towers numbered from 1 to 50, with numbers 14 and 44 omitted due to tetraphobia. The first phase includes buildings of 20 stories, whereas those in the second phase rise to 21 stories. The comparatively modest height is attributed to its position beneath the flight path of the former Kai Tak Airport.
Commerce
Paradise Mall, which opened its doors in 1987, underwent significant refurbishment in early 2018. The mall shifted its design theme from European Renaissance to one centered around sports. It now features leading sports brands such as Adidas, Converse, NIKKO, Puma, and Under Armour, drawing shoppers from beyond Heng Fa Chuen.
A notable milestone for the estate was hosting the world’s 11,000th McDonald's outlet in 1989.
Regarding retail changes, Hong Kong’s first Carrefour supermarket opened here in December 1996 but was replaced by a ParknShop store in 2000.
Amenities
Residents benefit from a recreation centre located near blocks 32 and 33, which includes two swimming pools, a fitness gym, and a dining restaurant.
The waterfront setting offers picturesque views of Tathong Channel, enhancing Heng Fa Chuen’s attractiveness as both a residential community and commercial district.
Demographics
The estate comprises a total of 6,504 apartments and recorded a population of 18,921 according to data from 2011.
Education
Within Heng Fa Chuen are one secondary school, two primary schools, and four kindergartens:
- Lingnan Secondary School ()
- The Salvation Army Ann Wyllie Memorial Primary School ()
- The C. & M. A. Scholars' Kindergarten ()
- St. Dominic Kindergarten ()
- The Creative Kindergarten ()
- The Ruth Kindergarten ()
The estate is included in Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 16, which encompasses various aided schools along with two government primary schools: Shau Kei Wan Government Primary School and Aldrich Bay Government Primary School.
Transport
The Heng Fa Chuen station on the MTR Island line provides rail access to Heng Fa Chuen. Residential Blocks 1 through 18 are constructed atop a podium that sits above the MTR's Chai Wan Depot, which is responsible for servicing trains on this line.
Located opposite Blocks 49 and 50, a bus terminus offers various routes such as route 8 to Wan Chai, route 85 heading to Braemar Hill with late services extending to North Point Ferry Pier, and peak-hour routes including 118P to Cheung Sha Wan via the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and 608P to Kai Tak through the Eastern Harbour Tunnel. Additionally, two green minibus lines, numbered 62 and 62A, provide connections between Heng Fa Chuen and Siu Sai Wan.