Ma Tau Kok Road Refuse Boat Pier and Live Stock Landing [1936- ] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Ma Tau Kok Road Refuse Boat Pier and Live Stock Landing [1936- ]

Primary tabs

Submitted by David on Tue, 2019-10-15 22:15
Current condition: 
Ruin
Date Place completed: 
c.1936-07-01 (Day is approximate)

At the end of Ma Tau Kok Road there are the remains of an old pier.

Looking at the 1952 map, it's the nearest pier to the old cattle depot, so I wonder if it is where cattle deliveries by sea were unloaded? [Update: It was a combined refuse boat pier and livestock landing pier. See comments below.]

Tags: 
pier
refuse pier
  • Log in or register to post comments

Photos that show this place

2019
2019

Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Thu, 2019-10-17 10:29.

A good read of the heritage of To Kwa Wan and Kowloon City can be found here On page 122, a map shows that the referenced pier was a refuse pier

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2019-10-18 15:32.

Thanks Moddsey. That led me to the PWD's report for 1934:

220. Refuse Boat Pier and Live Stock Landing at Ma Tau Kok:—The contract for this work was let in July. Good progress was made up to the end of the year. All dredging work was completed, and the formation of rubble mound together with the manufacture of cement concrete foundation blockwork was proceeding satisfactorily.
 
Expenditure $25,018.66

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2019-10-19 05:23.

Good catch. Given the plan to develop the harbourfront of Kai Tak and southeast Kowloon, the pier is probably the last remaining refuse boat pier that survives from the 1930s.  

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2019-10-19 11:50.

It's a good bit of local history to add to the story of the Cattle Depot too.

Here's a side-on view that shows its similar shape to the other refuse piers.

Ma Tau Kok Road pier - side view

 

I just noticed that the 1934 PWD report showed it was still being built, The following year's report shows its completion:

155. Refuse Boat Pier and Live Stock Landing at Ma Tau Kok Road:—This work was referred to in paragraph 220 of last year’s Report. Good progress was recorded and the refuse pier and live stock landing was completed in July. Delay was occasioned in the opening of the pier due to the non-completion of the sea wall of the adjoining lot.