20-22 Severn Road | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

20-22 Severn Road

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20-22 Severn Road
Submitted by annelisec
Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Connections: 
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Submitted by annelisec on Wed, 2010-03-10 21:05.

Here is a stunning old mansion.  It does not look lived in. 

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2010-03-10 23:42.

It looks like I made a duplicate post in comment for The Ridge.  Sorry. 

Tai Sang Land (the Ma family's property company) still owns this property, according to 2004 annual report.  It lists 20 and 22 Severn Road (portion of) as a directors' residence.

A 2001 annual report said the property is under development into two houses, with completion in 2004/2005.  If the picture of the yellow mansion was taken recently, then did the redevelopment not go ahead as planned?

Submitted by Jnnl (not verified) on Thu, 2010-03-11 09:41.

Unused this is not! The house is the official residence of Wong Yan-Lung, our current Secretary of Justice. I didn't find this out until very recently when I saw in a magazine (whilst in Pacific Coffee) a list of homes owned by Hong Kong's elite. The magazine's name? Elite Home. From the picture in the magazine it has its own tennis court.

Submitted by annelisec on Thu, 2010-03-11 11:36.

Delighted to hear it is being well used. 

If the Secretary for Justice is living there, who is using the official residence of the Secretary for Justice at #19 just below?

According to the Government

"the mansion was purchased by the family of Ma Ka Chan in 1989 and was later transferred to the Hong Kong Government in 1997."

www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_brief_info_en.pdf

yet the Tsai Sang Land Development - Annual report 2000.

"A portion of our property at Nos. 20 & 22 Severn Road, The Peak, Hong Kong is under development into two super luxurious houses.  Completion expected to be in 2003/2004.  All the properties upon completion of construction will be held for investment purpose".

- that begs the question- why did they do it ?  To be public spirited and protect the building? Or was it given In exchange for something ? Or are taxpayers paying rent to protect this house from re-development?

22 Severn Road seems to be a separate building on the same driveway.  Perhaps that is being used as the Director's home.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2010-03-11 13:02.

I think there must be a mistake in that magazine article.  It is the first time I heard of the SoJ living at 20 Severn Road.  According to multiple sources (including Ming Pao from 2/2/2010), the SoJ resides at 19 Severn Road.  The link:  http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100201/4/geny.html

Tai Sang's latest schedule of properties (12/31/08) lists No. 20 & 22 (portion) as a director's residence with gross floor area of 1,282 sq. m.  Next it lists No. 20 & 22 (portion) as a property under development, with GFA of 623-sq. m and "Planning" as the expected completion date.

22 Severn Road was purchased separately by Tai Sang.  No. 20 was purchased in 1989 for $22 million.  No. 22 was purchased in 1996 for $90 million and a land premium of $22.8 million paid to the government.  Source: Next Magazine, 2005-09-08

Submitted by Jnnl (not verified) on Thu, 2010-03-11 19:40.

My apologies for not mentioning this in my original post, but I also have my reservations about the article in the magazine. I believe it may be mistaken as the house just below #20-22 does fly the Hong Kong flag quite prominently. I do not think I am allowed to scan in and post the double page spread from the magazine? But if you are curious its in Elite Homes, Issue 4, Autumn 2009.

Submitted by Compradore on Fri, 2010-03-12 08:30.

Thanks for pointing of the magazine, JNNL.  Much appreciated.

I used google street view for some of these houses and they are fantastic.  However, the street view for No. 20 Severn Road, especially the driveway and what looks to be a gate, seems to indicate the house is not used.

Actually, now that I look at it closely, even in Annelisec's picture, the house appears to be fenced off by that green thing.

Submitted by boardnasty on Tue, 2010-08-10 22:25.

Mr. William Ma lives at number 22 Severn Road according to my companies VIP mailing list.

His sons are Derek and Alex Ma.

The both studdied in college in the US and are back in Hong Kong now. The boys aged 21 and 25 live in the Albany together.