In downtown Sheung Wan of Hong Kong, there is a triangle land closed to the sea. The building is also in triangle just because of the land shop. It’s seems nothing special. But I have to say, it was the key of the HK economic.
在今天香港的上環鬧市，近海之處有一塊三角形的地皮，因應這塊地皮，這裡的大廈都呈現成三角形。這看似沒有什麼特別的地方，原來在數十年前是香港的經濟命脈所在。
In the 19th century, HK became the most important entrepot between China and the Western. Every day, tones of goods were transit to China through HK. At that time, the triangle land was just at the coast, there were almost 20 pier to transit the goods. Because of the triangle land, the biggest pier was called the triangular Pier.
在19世紀，香港成為了西方的鴉片及舶來品等的重要轉運港口，每天都有數以萬計的貨物由香港送到中國。這塊三角形地皮在當時是海邊，這裡建有十多個碼頭，負責運送貨物來往中港兩地，因為這塊三角形地皮，這裡最大的一個碼頭叫三角碼頭。
Triangular Pier in the past 以前的三角碼頭 (photo from apple daily)
The most special goods in and out the pier was not opium or other things. It’s human. In the 19th century, because of the Gold Rush and Abolitionism of USA, People in USA urgently needed manpower. The Chinese became the target. The British traders prepared working contract for Chinese worker to USA. The contract usually lasted for 3 years with monthly rate $5. Of course, after deducting the admin fee, only $1-$2 was left. Most Chinese Worker will go to HK first and get on the ships through Triangular Pier. Over the years, more than 1M Chinese worker moved to USA, South America, Australia and other places.
三角碼頭值得一談的地方，在於它運送的不止是貨物，還有人。19世紀美國淘金熱，加上廢奴政策，他們急需大批勞工開採金礦，於是遠在中國的華人就成為了目標。英國商人為他們訂下工作合約到美國工作，一時間數以萬計的華人出境美國。他們一般的合約期為三年，只要工作三年則為自由身，至於人工，則是每月5元，不過扣除各重費用後，應該只剩下一兩元了。大部份華工都會先到香港，然後經三角碼頭出發，數十年間，超過一百萬名華人遠渡重洋，到達世界各地。
Chinese Workers on the ship 華工的艱苦生活
(photo from 马来西亚华裔博物馆)
In the 20th century, the Chinese Worker system was down. Triangular Pier became the distribution center of Groceries from all over the world. Thousands of workers transported goods like dry seafood, rice, at Triangular Pier. The business of Triangular Pier took care the life of many people. For example, the Lee family of the Bank of East Asia just started their business at the Pier. The Pier soon became the target of HK gangs. We could see fight and blood every day at the Pier.
後來華人制度式微，三角碼頭成為內地大小雜貨集散中心，如海味、白米等，數以萬計的苦力都在這裡搬運貨物，養活了無數人，如香港東亞銀行的李氏家族，當年就是靠三角碼頭的白米生意起家。有生意自然招風招雨，三角碼頭也是各大黑幫虎視之地，為爭奪地盤每天腥風血雨，而其中，潮州幫勢力最大，導致這附近到今仍有不少潮州茶館。
(photo from weshare.hk)
Now, all become memory. In the 1970s, the HK Government started the reclamation project again at Sheung Wan. Also, the Kwai Chung Container Terminals, which was the world’s busiest Terminals from 1992-2004, was built. Triangular Pier lost its function. I believe, nowadays younger HK people all do not know the name of Triangular Pier.
不過，這一切已成回憶，後來政府進行填海工程，加上興建了曾經連續十三年獲得全球最繁忙貨櫃港口的葵涌貨櫃碼頭，三角碼頭已失去其功用已拆掉了，我相信，今天年輕一輩的香港人都已經不知道三角碼頭的存在。
Pier become high building 碼頭已成高樓大廈
It should be the sea in the past 以前這裡就是大海
But there are still a lot of dry seafood store around
不過附近還有很多海味店
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Thanks for spending your time to read my articles. I like to share stories of Hong Kong. I wish you may support me and I will keep going!
謝謝你能抽空閱讀這篇文章，我平日喜歡分享香港的故事，希望大家多多支持，我會繼續努力！
