The new KCR extension to Tsim Sha Tsui was open to the public yesterday for the first time. The full service starts next Sunday afternoon.
Predictably, there have been complaints about the fares. Idiotic politicians have argued (amongst other things) that the fare from the New Territories to the new TST station should be the same as to Hung Hom, because both stations are in the same district. I thought Hung Hom was in a different district, but even if it isn't I find this a puzzling argument. Anyone starting their journey on KCR East Rail and wanting to get to TST currently has to change to the MTR at Kowloon Tong or take a bus or minibus from Hung Hom. The new service will be cheaper and more convenient, so why the complaints?
Meanwhile, the KCR has decided to replace all the signs in KCR East Rail that direct passengers to the southbound service. They used to say 'Kowloon', which seems a perfectly adequate description, but they are changing them to say 'East Tsim Sha Tsui". True, that is the new terminus, but last time I checked TST was also in Kowloon, so why the need for a change?
Finally, can anyone explain why they have chosen that English name for the station? The Chinese name is the much simpler Tsim East (sounds something like "Jim Done" in Cantonese), the same as the name given to the area between TST and Hung Hom - which was reclaimed from the harbour twenty or so years ago. This is usually rendered as TST East in English, and reversing this for the name of the station seems rather confusing!
East is more accurately romanised as dung (similar sound to the surname of the Chief Executive), but then, writing Jim Dung looks kinda gross.
Posted by: BWG | October 18, 2004 at 09:52 AM
You're right, of course.
The problem I have with Romanization is that it often makes it more difficult to guess how the word is pronounced. Here the 'g' at the end is almost inaudible, and I think you get closer if you ignore it. However, I maybe wrong on this - I think I have established beyond reasonable doubt that I am tone deaf!!
Tsim Sha Tsui is a case in point, as I think I have mentioned before. I feel sorry for all the tourists who try to pronounce this name based upon the letters they can see on the printed page!
Posted by: Chris | October 18, 2004 at 10:20 AM
The first time I came to Hong Kong, I pronounced Tsim Sha Tsui as Ta-seem-sat-soy.
No wonder the stupid cabbies couldn't understand me!
BWG is right about "dung," and you are right about the silent "g." However, I believe the correct tone should fall between T and D (for Tung), a light "t" pronunciation, perhaps like French (as in Terre)?
Cheers!
Posted by: Ron | October 18, 2004 at 10:48 AM
Actually Hung Hom station used to be called "Kowloon Station", before MTR stole that name for the Airport Express...
Posted by: spacehunt | October 18, 2004 at 03:19 PM
No, I don't think so!
Posted by: Chris | October 18, 2004 at 04:13 PM
I don't think Hung Hom station was ever referred to as 'Kowloon' station. Historically (i.e. pre-electrification), the terminal station was in Tsim Sha Tsui, where the clock tower is now. I don't know if it was called Kowloon Station, though.
There's more history of the KCRC at http://www.kcrc.com/eng/corporate/about/dates.asp
Posted by: dave | October 18, 2004 at 05:15 PM