Western end of Argyle Street, looking eastCLP Group Headquarters along Argyle StreetA view of Argyle Street near Kowloon CityOverlooking Argyle Street from the footbridge at the intersection with Tong Mi Road
Argyle Street is a four-lane dual-way thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong, connecting the districts of Mong Kok, Ho Man Tin, Ma Tau Wai and Kowloon City. It runs on an east-west alignment starting at its intersection with Cherry Street, Ferry Street and Tong Mi Road in the west, and ending near the former Kai Tak Airport in the east. Due to the street's proximity with the latter, a variety of aircraft could be seen from this street and thus photographers (and movie makers) seized the opportunity to capture landing aircraft.
The street was named after a British merchant ship called Argyle, which sailed between India and southern China in the early 19th century.[1]
As the MTR was built in the 1970s, and some exits of the Mong Kok Station had occupied the right lanes of Argyle Street from Sai Yeung Choi Street to Portland Street, thus the government at the time had made the control in effect: vehicles can only travel westbound on Argyle Street between those two streets mentioned above. As a result, vehicles from Tai Kok Tsui via Argyle Street, eastbound towards Kowloon City, should make a left turn onto Reclamation Street and then a right onto Mong Kok Road. After crossing the junction between Mong Kok Road and Nathan Road, one shall turn right to either Sai Yeung Choi Street or Sai Yee Street in order to lead back to Argyle Street. For the same reason, all vehicles are not allowed to make a right turn directly from Nathan Road to Argyle Street, and must follow the route described above. With a large number of buses and minivans passing through this section daily, these intersections have frequently encountered accidents and problems of traffic congestion. [2][3] There have been plans to correct this, but they are still in discussion. [4]
