We stay in Hong Kong for this latest version of “Around the World in Trams”.
As well as the Happy Valley loop and the eastern and western termini, the Hong Kong tramway has several points where short-working cars turn back. There are six of these intermediate termini, one of which is North Point, served by a single-track terminal loop which runs along Chun Yeung Street. On a gloomy late afternoon car 82 is seen making its way past the shops on Chun Yeung Street as it runs clockwise towards the curve which will take it round the corner into the platform at North Point terminus. The car is carrying an advert from the HK Government’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department promoting Green Burials – space is at a premium in Hong Kong. The background is typical of the city – busy shops and densely packed blocks of high-rise housing. Face masks continue to be quite widely worn
Trams serve six main routes, including one covering the complete line from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan. Two routes serve Happy Valley, one from Kennedy Town and one from Shau Kei Wan, while trams terminating at North Point originate at Shek Tong Tsui, a stop between Whitty Street depot and Kennedy Town. The other two routes are Sheung Wan (Western Market) to Shau Kei Wan and Shek Tong Tsui to Causeway Bay. Route numbers are not carried and other routes can operate, particularly ones involving depot workings. Trams operate from roughly 05.45 until after midnight and run so frequently that passengers simply have to wait at their stop until a car going to or beyond their destination turns up. It will not be a long wait.
Trams are driver-only operated and fares are paid on leaving the car at the front exit. Payment can be made by card, cash (no change given) or mobile-based apps like Alipay. The most popular method is by Octopus card, Hong Kong’s equivalent of London’s Oyster, which is available in various versions for visitors. The non-tourist ‘on-loan’ version involves a deposit of HK$50.00 (about £5.00), but comes in both Adult and Elder versions. The latter, available to anyone over 65 regardless of whether or not they are resident in Hong Kong, allows travel on all modes of transport in HK at discounted fares. The adult single on the trams is HK$3.30 whereas elders have HK$1.50 deducted from their balance if in possession of the appropriate Oyster card. 15p to ride the full length of the tramway is an amazing bargain, though the full fare is unlikely to cause younger passengers much financial hardship.
Words by Donald Brooks
Photograph by Donald Brooks. 5th April 2026